William Hill Extra Places With BOG 'Chasing Excellence' Novices' Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:09 | Winning time: 6m 27.47s

Pied Piper^p,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 150| C

13/2

Started his chase career with 3 wins. Found life harder at Graded level since, albeit latest Tipperary third was respectable. Has to concede weight all round but his stable has a good recent record in this race.

Form: 1-110F3

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Anyway^p³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: D Budds| OR: 141

17/2

Excellent second in 20.5f novice handicap chase at the Festival here before winning a Kilbeggan maiden in June. Unseated early in the Galway Plate next time and seemingly had his stamina stretched when stepped up to 3m for the Kerry National at Listowel last month.

Form: 552-1U8

Baltic Bird^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Patrick M O'Brien| T: W Durkan| OR: 129

40/1

Successful start over fences at Down Royal in May. Creditable 16 lengths third of 6 in novice chase at Clonmel (24f, good to soft) 23 days ago but has a bit to find in this company.

Form: 73-1403

Intense Approach⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Alex Harvey| T: J C McConnell| C

2/1

Useful hurdler, including a win in the 3m novice hurdle on this card last year. Took well to fences with a big-field maiden success on 22.5f Galway reappearance in August and bold show looks assured with the return to a longer trip in his favour.

Form: 211P8-1

Leave Of Absence^t²¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 132

9/2

Bumper/hurdle winner who took well to fences back from an absence last season, finishing second in Grade 2 Reynoldstown before bagging a 3m Newbury handicap when last seen in March. Good record fresh. Considered.

Form: 131/221-

Sporting Glory²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott

6/1

Bumper/hurdler winner. Sound start to his chase career when fourth of 8 in 17.5f Sligo maiden on reappearance 24 days ago. The much longer trip could suit better. Jack Kennedy seemingly prefers Pied Piper.

Form: 4/13P0-4

Welcom To Cartries^p1,t²¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 133

4/1

Useful hurdler and achieved a similar level of form when fourth in a pair of Graded events switched to fences at the end of 2024. Ended last season with a creditable second back hurdling at Newbury. Has first-time cheekpieces added to his tongue now returned to larger obstacles after a break.

Form: 128/442-

Forecasts

Intense Approach (2/1), Welcom To Cartries (4/1), Leave Of Absence (9/2), Sporting Glory (6/1), Pied Piper (13/2), Anyway (17/2), Baltic Bird (40/1)

INTENSE APPROACH will be suited by the return to 3m+ and is taken to enhance his excellent strike-rate and make it 2-2 over fences. Leave of Absence was a decisive winner in handicap company at Newbury when last seen in the spring and is second choice ahead of Welcome To Cartries, who should find this a bit easier than the Graded races he contested on both chase starts last season.