O'Neills.com Irish EBF Beginners Chase

Off time: 14:33 | Winning time: 5m 16.70s

Antrim Coast¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: Rory Devine| OR: 121

6/1

Runner-up 3 times last summer for Gavin Cromwell but failed to replicate that form in 3 outings for Henry de Bromhead. Placed once from 2 starts on the Flat for current yard and will need to be at his best if he's to feature now back over fences.

Form: 2225-60

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Big Tom³⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Conor Smithers⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs M Whelehan

125/1

Well beaten all 3 starts in maiden hurdles but has won a point since last seen under Rules. Makes chasing debut.

Form: 00/815-

Kainsbourg^p,t¹²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott

10/1

Fairly useful hurdler, won twice early last season at up to 2½m and also second in the Grade 2 Persian War at Chepstow. Beaten by more than lack of stamina for 3m on chase debut in June. In good hands and should do better back down in trip but requires a leap of faith on the back of 126-day break.

Form: 14124-P

Our Soldier¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr H C Swan| T: D Hogan

11/2

Won staying handicap hurdles at Wexford and Bellewstown in 2025 for E. J. O’Grady. Given a considerate introduction to chasing when mid-field in a Listowel maiden on return last month and should improve, though handicaps may be where he comes into his own in this sphere.

Form: 392/11-7

Straight John^t¹⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

7/4

Fair hurdler who won a maiden at Punchestown last season. Very much the type to make a chaser on pedigree and should be suited by this step up in trip. Interesting.

Form: 62137-

Walks The Talk¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Alex Harvey| T: J C McConnell

7/4

Winning pointer who won first 2 starts over hurdles and was an encouraging third of 6 to La Note Verte in mares novice at Listowel on chasing debut, the lack of a recent outing telling late on. Seems sure to do better.

Form: 1525P-3

Non-Runners

Fort Dino¹⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: H De Bromhead J: Darragh O'Keeffe

Forecasts

Walks The Talk (7/4), Straight John (7/4), Fort Dino (11/4), Our Soldier (11/2), Antrim Coast (6/1), Kainsbourg (10/1), Big Tom (125/1)

FORT DINO shaped as if amiss last time but had made an encouraging start in this sphere beforehand and will go close if returning to that level. Straight John looks likely to make a better chaser than hurdler and rates the main danger, while Walks The Talk should do better on the back of a promising return.