Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 4m 35.10s

Shadow Paddy^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Gary Noonan| T: E McCarthy| OR: 136

5/2

Prolific over hurdles last season, winning 4 times, and has taken his form to another level over fences this term, readily landing a 2½m Limerick maiden before following up in a 7-runner novice at Killarney last time by 4 lengths from Endless Talking. Still unexposed and rates a major player.

Form: 411P-11

Court Canyon^t⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Ewing| T: Ian Donoghue

10/1

Fair hurdle winner for Gavin Cromwell but proved a different proposition sent chasing for current connections when comfortably landing a 6-runner maiden at Down Royal in May by 7 lengths from Scalpnagoon, jumping soundly. This is tougher but he's clearly open to further progress.

Form: 0/5120-1

Le Coq Hardi^p1⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 135

4/1

Useful form over fences last year without managing to get his head in front but put that right at the second time of asking this season when capitalising on a good opportunity in a 2½m maiden at Kilbeggan in June. Cheekpieces on now stepping into graded company.

Form: 234P-21

Soir De Garde³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

7/2

Failed to properly kick on from a promising winning debut over hurdles and, while he made a similarly successful start over fences at Wexford last month, it was harum-scarum stuff jumping-wise. Needs to take a significant step forward to trouble the principals.

Form: 31/2FP-1

Wild Bill Hickok^h⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Eoghan Finegan| T: Ciaran Murphy| OR: 135

5/1

Dual winning hurdler in France who has made a positive start to life over fences for current connections, winning a 2m maiden at Wexford in May and then resuming winning ways in an 8-runner novice at Roscommon last month, beating Workahead by 4¾ lengths. His age allowance puts him firmly in the mix.

Form: 7P0-131

Lady Bluebird³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Ben Harvey| T: H P Finegan| D

16/1

Managed to reach a fair level over hurdles but excelled herself first time up over fences when winning an 8-runner mares maiden by a length from Future Prospect, jumping soundly at the head of affairs and knuckling down well. This represents a big step up in grade, however.

Form: 51-2631

Queenofthelodge^p⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Phillip Enright| T: S Curling| D

8/1

Fairly useful mare who made an instant impact over fences when comfortably landing a 9-runner maiden at Wexford 8 days ago by 11 lengths from Los Blanco. She's entitled to build on that but others preferred for win purposes.

Form: 57-4431

Forecasts

Shadow Paddy (5/2), Soir De Garde (7/2), Le Coq Hardi (4/1), Wild Bill Hickok (5/1), Queenofthelodge (8/1), Court Canyon (10/1), Lady Bluebird (16/1)

SHADOW PADDY arrives a perfect 2 from 2 over fences and, while this course will further test his jumping, he's likely to prove hard to beat if taking another step forward. Wild Bill Hickok got his career back on track when winning at Roscommon last time and looks the main danger in receipt of 8 lb from the selection, whilst Le Coq Hardi is also capable of getting involved at his very best.