Forth Mountain Trails Beginners Chase

Off time: 15:22 | Winning time: 3m 56.80s

Automatic³⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark McDonagh⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Burke| OR: 93| D

50/1

Fourteenth of 19 in handicap hurdle at Cork (16.9f, good to soft, 50/1). Off 11 months. Switches from hurdles to chase with his fitness to prove.

Form: 950P/00-

Linden Blaze⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Shane Fenelon⁽⁷⁾| T: R P Rath

125/1

Twice-raced maiden under NH rules. Blinkered for 1st time, thirteenth of 14 in novice hurdle (200/1) at Kilbeggan (16f, good) on hurdles bow. Off 10 months ahead of chase debut.

Form: 80UP2-P

Tax For Max^t⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: K Callaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| D

1/5

Useful hurdler. Respectable tenth of 18 in handicap hurdle (7/1) at Punchestown (19.1f, good to soft) 52 days ago. Makes chase debut. Yard in good form. Big player.

Form: 160520-

Walnut Beach⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Shane Fitzgerald| T: P J Flynn| D

10/3

Fairly useful hurdler. Latest win in hurdle at Cork in November. Creditable fifth of 14 in handicap hurdle (14/1) at Clonmel (16.2f, soft) 40 days ago. Makes chase debut. One to consider.

Form: 14300-5

Lodestar^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Mike O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: D H Kelly

25/1

Once-raced maiden. Tongue strap on, fourth of 15 in novice hurdle at Ballinrobe (16.2f, good, 80/1) on NH debut 21 days ago. Makes chase debut and she's no forlorn hope.

Form: P/7-4

Pepperocco^t¹⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: C J Orr| T: R O'Sullivan

28/1

Fourteenth of 22 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.4f, heavy, 6/1) 171 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase with plenty more needed.

Form: 900580-

Non-Runners

I A Connect¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: C McGivern

Forecasts

Tax For Max (1/5), I A Connect (13/8), Walnut Beach (10/3), Lodestar (25/1), Pepperocco (28/1), Automatic (50/1), Linden Blaze (125/1)

TAX FOR MAX brings some useful hurdling form to the table so Willie Mullins' 6-y-o is fancied to go in at the first time of asking over fences. Fellow chasing debutants Walnut Beach and I A Connect also offer potential in this sphere and can chase home the selection in that order.