Race Displays Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 12:00 | Winning time: 4m 10.1s

Ballygunner Castle⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| D

2/1

Dual bumper winner who did well to make a successful hurdling debut in 25-runner maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, good) on hurdles bow 49 days ago, rallying having twice suffered interference in closing stages. Sure to go on to better things.

Form: 31-11

C'est Ta Chance⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Slevin| T: W P Mullins

9/2

Fairly useful in bumpers and looked potentially useful when winning 18-runner maiden hurdle at Clonmel (19.4f, soft) 46 days ago, kept up to work. Open to improvement.

Form: 1/204-1

James's Gate^t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Mark Walsh| T: M Brassil| OR: 127| D

3/1

Made light of a 19-month absence when scoring in smooth fashion in 19-runner maiden (6/1) at Punchestown (19.1f, soft) 39 days ago, easily. Open to further improvement.

Form: 134/43-1

Taponthego²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 127| BF

10/3

Confirmed hurdling debut promise when scoring at Tipperary in November and ran at least as well when second on 12 on handicap debut at Leopardstown (19.8f) 20 days ago, albeit no match for winner. Likely to give another good account.

Form: F2-212

Casheldale Lad^h⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| D

7/1

Won maiden sole start on Flat for Andrew Kinirons and followed up in 17-runner maiden at Gowran (2m) 14 months later, drawing clear from 2 out. Will improve.

Form: 1

Forecasts

Ballygunner Castle (2/1), James's Gate (3/1), Taponthego (10/3), C'est Ta Chance (9/2), Casheldale Lad (7/1)

BALLYGUNNER CASTLE did well to make a successful hurdling debut at Fairyhouse towards the end of November having been forced to overcome 2 serious bits of interference in the closing stages and, open to plenty of improvement, is fancied to take his record to 2 wins from as many starts in this sphere. Casheldale Lad and James's Gate are feared most but solid cases can be made for any of the 5.