15:15 Navan

Saturday 18 November 2023

All11:5012:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 4m 52.40s

Ahead Of The Posse⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell

125/1

Fairly useful hurdler but below that level both chase starts. Up against it here.

Form: 05-4236

Dreal Deal^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: J C McConnell| OR: 132| C

50/1

Useful hurdler who was placed in 2 chases for Ronan McNally in the spring. Warmed up for this with a spin on AW Flat for new yard 15 days ago.

Form: 1748/3-3

Facile Vega²⁰⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

8/15

Won all 4 starts in bumpers and also a very smart dual Grade 1 novice hurdle winner last season. Likely to go to the very top over fences too.

Form: 1/11521-

Hands Of Gold²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Ricky Doyle| T: A L T Moore

80/1

Promising sort. Useful hurdle winner. Fifth of 9 in novice at Galway (18.2f, heavy, 7/1) on debut over fences 21 days ago. Should have more to offer in this sphere.

Form: F7117-5

Inthepocket²¹⁸

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

15/8

Cost £290,000 after winning his sole point and quickly made up into a smart novice over hurdles, fourth (reoppsing Facile Vega second) in the Supreme before landing Aintree Grade 1 on final start in April. Most exciting recruit now chasing.

Form: 1/11241-

Jump The Shark¹⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: G P Cromwell| BF

80/1

Fair hurdler. Ninth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Wexford (20.4f, good, 2/1) 150 days ago. Makes chase debut.

Form: 04324-9

Rumoroso^t1⁸⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: A P Heskin| T: C A McBratney

200/1

Absent since winning a Downpatrick maiden chase for Willie Mullins in spring 2021. Makes chase debut for new yard with tongue tie added. Can only watch.

Form: 2931/

Sa Fureur²⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott| BF

22/1

Useful hurdler. 13/2, pulled up in handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (21f, soft), eased after next. Off 8 months. Makes chase debut. Stable in good form.

Form: 42111P-

Saint Felicien⁶¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| BF| D

9/1

Ex-French winner who scored impressively on yard bow at Gowran before fine second to Darasso in Grade 3 Limestone Lad at Naas. Lack of experience found him out in Coral Cup at Cheltenham but he remains a good prospect.

Form: 112P/

Spillane's Tower²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: J J Mangan| BF

25/1

Promising individual. Useful winner at 19f over hurdles. Fourth of 9 in novice at Galway (18.2f, heavy, 7/4) on debut over fences 21 days ago. Should improve.

Form: 5/21U2-4

Verdant Place¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Simon Torrens| T: P T Foley

66/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Similar form on Fairyhouse chase debut but well-held fifth back there since.

Form: 1120-55

Kates Hill¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Donagh Meyler| T: J P Dempsey

100/1

Fair hurdler. 100/1, seventh of 11 in maiden at Fairyhouse (16.5f, heavy) on debut over fences 11 days ago. Open to progress but this is a very hot race.

Form: 2/264-37

Forecasts

Facile Vega (8/15), Inthepocket (15/8), Saint Felicien (9/1), Sa Fureur (22/1), Spillane's Tower (25/1), Dreal Deal (50/1), Verdant Place (66/1), Hands Of Gold (80/1), Jump The Shark (80/1), Kates Hill (100/1), Ahead Of The Posse (125/1), Rumoroso (200/1)

Maiden chases don't come much better than this. FACILE VEGA has won a combined 4 Grade 1s in his bumper and novice hurdle seasons and is likely to go to very top over fences too but Inthepocket was only 3 lengths behind him in the Supreme at the Cheltenham Festival and should also take high rank among this season's novice chasers. And don't forget Saint Felicien who also has the potential to be really smart in this new discipline.