J.F. Hanley Groundscare Beginners Chase

Off time: 19:00 | Winning time: 4m 11.3s

Garrybello^t⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: T Cooper

5/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 20/1, quickly back to form when good fourth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Killarney (20f, good) 85 days ago. Makes chase debut.

Form: P/0750-4

Gentleman Joe^t⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| D

7/4

Fairly useful on Flat and confirmed himself of similar merit over hurdles when opening his account at the sixth attempt in a Clonmel novice (16.2f) back in May. Absent since but he's of interest now attentions switch to larger obstacles.

Form: 48/07U-1

Gracchus De Balme²⁰⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| D

1/1

Won sole start in points/useful hurdler who failed to complete both starts over fences at Punchestown last season. However, first of those runs contained definite promise (jumped soundly in the main) and he remains open to improvement in this sphere.

Form: 3213/FF-

Lucky Number^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan

80/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. Booked for fourth when fell heavily last in beginners chase (66/1) at Thurles (16.4f, good to soft) in February. Arrives fit from pair of spins on Flat last month but likely he'll come up short again back over fences.

Form: 570/0F-

Glen Ali¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Kieren Buckley⁽³⁾| T: C O'Connell

125/1

Thoroughly unreliable sort. Fifth of 7 in novice chase at Kilbeggan (19f, soft, 250/1) on debut over fences 18 days ago, slow 3 out and tailed off. Very hard to warm to.

Form: PRP-005

Hope Des Blins⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 111| D

11/1

Fairly useful maiden chaser who was still in contention when falling heavily 4 out at in listed handicap at Killarney (17f) in July. Offered little back over hurdles at Galway 6 days ago but better showing not ruled out returned to chasing.

Form: 4433F0

Reverse Polarity¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: Ms H P Markham

50/1

Fair hurdler who showed a bit when fifth in 11-runner mares' maiden chase at Tramore last summer. Off 12 months/first start for this yard when well held eleventh of 14 in handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan (18f) 18 days ago. This should reveal more back over fences.

Form: 13/350-0

Forecasts

Gracchus De Balme (1/1), Gentleman Joe (7/4), Garrybello (5/1), Hope Des Blins (11/1), Reverse Polarity (50/1), Lucky Number (80/1), Glen Ali (125/1)

A useful sort over hurdles, GRACCHUS DE BALME failed to complete on both starts over fences last term but there was definite promise on the first of those and he could well be worth siding with to get back on track in these calmer waters. Gentleman Joe, successful over hurdles at Clonmel last time, is feared on chase debut with Garrybello and Hope des Blins also expected to be on the premises.