Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase

Off time: 14:32 | Winning time: 4m 36.1s

Burru^h⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: Bernard Crowley

125/1

Thrice-raced maiden, good fourth of 13 in novice hurdle at Thurles (16.2f, soft, 14/1) 51 days ago. Makes chase debut with more needed.

Form: 5-33374

Firm Footings¹⁷

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

11/4

Smart chaser. Latest win in hurdle at Sligo in October. Has started well over fences too, posting a good second of 8 in novice chase at Leopardstown (17f, heavy) 17 days ago. Player.

Form: 67-1522

Hunters Yarn²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| BF| C

8/15

Smart winning hurdler who would have gone it at the first time of asking over fences but for falling last in novice chase at this course (16.5f, heavy, 1/3) 28 days ago. Jumped well otherwise and can get off the mark now.

Form: 31102-F

Malton Groove⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott

100/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. Made mistakes when eighth of 11 in novice chase at Wexford (16f, heavy, 17/2) on debut over fences 57 days ago. Needs to take a big step forward.

Form: 8/4PF-8

Path D'oroux^t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 136

7/1

Useful winner at 16f over hurdles who was in the process of running his best race in this sphere when fell last (every chance) in handicap chase at Leopardstown (17f, good to soft, 7/2) 18 days ago. Not ruled out.

Form: 34468F

Polo Lounge^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins

16/1

Fairly useful winner at 16f over hurdles. Shaped as if better for the run after 13 months off when fourth of 12 in novice chase at this course (16.5f, heavy, 12/1) on debut over fences 28 days ago. Should improve.

Form: 4211P-4

Byker^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Phillip Enright| T: C Byrnes

40/1

Useful hurdler but well below that level when second of 12 in novice chase (20/1) at this course (16.5f, heavy) on debut over fences 28 days ago. Open to improvement.

Form: 32-5502

Forecasts

Hunters Yarn (8/15), Firm Footings (11/4), Path D'oroux (7/1), Polo Lounge (16/1), Byker (40/1), Malton Groove (100/1), Burru (125/1)

HUNTERS YARN looked all set to make the perfect start over fences here last month until coming down at the last and can gain quick compensation before going onto better things. Firm Footings also has a bright future in this sphere and should ensure Willie Mullins' smart hurdler doesn't have things all his own way however, with Path d'Oroux appealing as the pick of the rest for minor honours.