Powerstown Park Beginners Chase

Off time: 17:40 | Winning time: 3m 55.20s

Darkened^t⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁵⁾| T: D Hogan| D

20/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 22/1, creditable sixth of 10 in handicap on the Flat at Roscommon (11.7f, good) 8 days ago. Makes chase debut. Not ruled out.

Form: 114005-

Desert Friend¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Daniel King⁽⁵⁾| T: D Hogan| D

11/2

Fairly useful hurdler. Sixth of 11 in novice chase (40/1) at Limerick (22.7f, good to soft) on debut over fences 15 days ago. Should improve.

Form: 35534-6

Landue²²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: A McCurtin| T: Eamon Courtney

200/1

Lightly-raced maiden over hurdles. Fairly useful winner at 13f on flat. 100/1, fifteenth of 16 in novice hurdle at Limerick (16f, soft). Off 7 months. Makes chase debut.

Form: 07FP/0-

Takarengo^p⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J B Foley| T: T Mullins| OR: 114| CD

12/1

Fairly useful hurdler. One win from 25 NH runs. Below form eighth of 14 in novice chase (17/2) at Kilbeggan (19.4f, good to soft) 5 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 65802-8

The Priests Leap^p,t²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 116| CD

13/2

Fair chaser. 40/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, first run since leaving William Durkan when last of 16 in handicap hurdle at Killarney (20f, good) 25 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Not one to write off.

Form: P/436P-0

Top Speed³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: H Morgan| T: H De Bromhead

8/13

Fair form over hurdles. 7/2 and tongue strap on for 1st time, career best when winning 19-runner novice hurdle at Down Royal (16.8f, good to soft) 39 days ago, pushed out Type to take to chasing and makes obvious appeal.

Form: 13/864-1

Bonarc¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Ryan| C| D

7/1

Fair chaser. 16/1, seventh of 9 in handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe (16.2f, good) 10 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Has good chance on pick of form.

Form: 1004P-7

Forecasts

Top Speed (8/13), Desert Friend (11/2), The Priests Leap (13/2), Bonarc (7/1), Takarengo (12/1), Darkened (20/1), Landue (200/1)

TOP SPEED upped his game to score in a novice hurdle at Down Royal and, as an easy winner of his only start in points, he appeals as the type to make a better chaser, so he's preferred to The Priests Leap, who is having just his second outing for Gordon Elliott. Bonarc is another one to consider.