16:30 Leopardstown

Monday 4 March 2024

All14:2515:0015:3016:0016:3017:0517:35

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 4m 44.60s

Ambitious Fellow³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Ewing| T: Peter Fahey

25/1

Useful hurdler. Five wins from 16 NH runs. Pulled up in handicap hurdle at Sandown (23.4f, good to soft, 50/1) 30 days ago, folding tamely before 2 out. Capable of a bold show if taking to fences at the first attempt but this trip will probably be on the sharp side for him.

Form: 0-0315P

Aspire Tower²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 146| C

4/7

Smart chaser. 5/2, very good second of 9 in novice chase at Thurles (16.3f, soft) 20 days ago. Pulled well clear of the third in that contest and he should go one better here.

Form: 48/3342

Cadatharla⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Simon Torrens| T: Colm Murphy

14/1

Useful hurdler. Fourth of 5 in novice chase (14/1) at Fairyhouse (21.4f, heavy) 63 days ago, not knocked about. Down in trip and open to improvement in this sphere.

Form: 5124-64

Gua Du Large^h,t⁵⁰⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: A P Heskin| T: H De Bromhead

28/1

Promising sort. Useful 2m winner over hurdles. 17/2, second of 5 in novice chase at Cork (20f, heavy) when last seen 6 months ago. Likely to win races in thi sphere but Aspire Tower is clearly the stable No 1.

Form: P107/42-

Horantzau D'airy^t⁹²

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

5/2

Useful hurdler. 7/1, 13¾ lengths seventh of 8 to Farren Glory in Royal Bond Novices' Hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) 92 days ago. Likely to make a chaser and Paul Townend prefers him to Paul Marvel.

Form: 4-14227

Marelly⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell

80/1

Fairly useful hurdler but safely held on chase debut at Fairyhouse (16.2f, heavy, 9/1) 40 days ago. Readily passed over.

Form: 112-885

Paul Marvel¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins

18/1

Promising sort. 12/1, fourth of 6 in novice chase at Gowran (20f, heavy) 16 days ago, not knocked about. Open to improvement but will find easier opportunities than this and Townend prefers Horantzau D'airy.

Form: 13-454

Sammy Smart⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Kieren Buckley| T: T Gibney

200/1

Fair hurdler. Eighth of 9 in novice chase at Fairyhouse (16.2f, heavy, 22/1) on debut over fences 40 days ago. Looks up against it.

Form: 946/25-8

Thecompanysergeant⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: D Hogan

11/1

Useful hurdler. First run since leaving Miss Shauna Larkin when tenth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (16.8f, good to soft, 20/1) 80 days ago. Makes chase debut.

Form: 2-P1400

Je T'ai Porte²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Shane Fitzgerald| T: G P Cromwell

100/1

Fifteenth of 19 in handicap hurdle at this course (18f, soft, 66/1) 29 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase and looks set for another struggle.

Form: 193U70

Forecasts

Aspire Tower (4/7), Horantzau D'airy (5/2), Thecompanysergeant (11/1), Cadatharla (14/1), Paul Marvel (18/1), Ambitious Fellow (25/1), Gua Du Large (28/1), Marelly (80/1), Je T'ai Porte (100/1), Sammy Smart (200/1)

Dual Grade 2 hurdles winner ASPIRE TOWER has acquitted himself very well in strong maiden chases at Thurles on his two starts in this sphere and should prove hard to beat. The one for the forecast could be his stablemate Gua du Large, with the Willie Mullins-trained pair Horantzau D'airy and Paul Marvel likely to be in the mix for minor honours.