15:55 Killarney

Sunday 14 May 2023

All13:5514:2514:5515:2515:5516:2516:5517:25

Gerard O'Sullivan Memorial Novice Chase

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 6m 1.70s

Mercury Lane^p,t¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P Nolan| OR: 119

22/1

Fairly useful chaser. Latest win at Wexford in March. Made no impression when eighth of 14 in handicap chase at Punchestown (31f, good to soft, 15/2) 15 days ago. Back down 1m in trip.

Form: 9P4128-

Saldier^p⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

7/4

Smart winner at 16f over hurdles. Made a winning chasing debut at Thurles in February but ran too badly to be true second time up in Grade 3 chase (9/1) at Naas (20f, soft) 9 weeks ago, struggling when mistake eighth. Cheekpieces back on and can get back on track.

Form: 6/3661P-

Caesar Rock^p²¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Ricky Doyle| T: M F Morris

7/1

Fairly useful chaser. Back on track when third of 5 in beginners chase (8/1) at Cork (20f, heavy) 7 months ago. More needed on return.

Form: 425823-

Iconic Flame^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: J Queally

150/1

Showed a bit more than on hurdling debut when eleventh of 18 in maiden hurdle at Tipperary (20.2f, soft, 150/1) 26 days ago. Makes chase debut.

Form: 2/7P0-

Perfect Attitude¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott

5/1

Useful chaser. Unseated rider 4 out in minor event hurdle at Punchestown (19.8f, good to soft, 28/1) 18 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Can make presence felt.

Form: 04/682U-

Summer Tide²⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Philip Byrnes⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| BF

9/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 9/2, tenth of 13 in handicap hurdle at this course (22.4f, good), badly hampered before 2 out and not given at all a hard time thereafter. Off 8 months. Makes chase debut.

Form: 5/92360-

Vina Ardanza²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J S McGarvey| T: G Elliott

2/1

Useful hurdler. 28/1, ran creditably without threatening when seventh of 22 in handicap hurdle at Aintree (24.7f, good) 29 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Looked set to win when falling late on chasing debut so can make amends.

Form: F92047-

Non-Runners

The Flier Begley¹³

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: S R B Crawford J: J J Slevin

Forecasts

Saldier (7/4), Vina Ardanza (2/1), Perfect Attitude (5/1), Caesar Rock (7/1), The Flier Begley (15/2), Summer Tide (9/1), Mercury Lane (22/1), Iconic Flame (150/1)

VINA ARDANZA looked set to make a winning start in this sphere before departing at the last here back in August, so Gordon Elliott's 6-y-o gets the vote to make amends. One-time very smart hurdler Saldier made a winning chasing debut at Thurles in February and Willie Mullins' charge can get back on track after a lacklustre effort at Naas 9 weeks ago. Perfect Attitude and recent winner The Flier Begley can fight out third spot.