T.C. Cullen Memorial Novice Chase

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 4m 2.40s

Aspire Tower¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 142| CD

4/9

Useful chaser. C&D winner. Shaped as though still in good heart when 8/1, creditable fifth of 23 in handicap chase at Punchestown (16.3f, good) 16 days ago, let down by his jumping at a vital stage. Has to be of serious interest back down in grade.

Form: 139315-

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Arctic Skua^p,t⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Phillip Enright| T: V Halley| OR: 100

66/1

Lightly-raced maiden chaser faced an impossible task in graded races prior to being brought down on handicap debut last time. Up against it again in this company.

Form: 1P7/54-B

Foxy Girl^h²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Mike O'Connor| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 125| D

3/1

Fairly useful hurdler and proved as good over fences when runner-up on second chase start. Shaped as though still in form for much of the way when fourth of 11 in novice chase at Cork (17.1f, good to soft, 4/1) 27 days ago. Lightly-raced as a chaser and remains open to progress.

Form: 390/424-

Rockstown Girl^t⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Jordan Gainford| T: A McCann| D

8/1

Fairly useful hurdler, winning 2m maiden at Tipperary and 19.5f novice at Chepstow last season. Up against it on two starts in Listed mares novice company subsequently and will need to improve back down in trip on chase debut.

Form: 431F70-

Ta Na La^t²¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: T M Walsh| BF

16/1

Fair hurdler. Winner in hurdle at Bellewstown in July. Well backed (5/2) when respectable fourth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.3f, good) in October. Tough ask on chase debut after 7 months off.

Form: 318244-

Forecasts

Aspire Tower (4/9), Foxy Girl (3/1), Rockstown Girl (8/1), Ta Na La (16/1), Arctic Skua (66/1)

ASPIRE TOWER shaped as though still in good form when a creditable fifth at Punchestown 16 days ago and he should hold the class edge back in calmer waters. Next best is stablemate Foxy Girl who is lightly-raced over fences and may be open to further improvement, with chase debutante Rockstown Girl best of the rest.