Flogas Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 5m 30.5s

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Selected odds by:

A Toi Phil²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 149

12/1

Career-best effort to win a valuable handicap at this venue three weeks ago, flying home to score. In Grade One company, he'll need more but is going the right way.

Form: 515124

Balko Des Flos¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D J Mullins| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 143

20/1

Travelled ominously at Naas last time out before fading, that was over three-miles so this drop in trip looks correct move. Needs to find around ten-lengths with Bellshill on Gowran Park run in November.

Form: 72133F

Bellshill⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150

6/5

The most talented of these over hurdles, he's made an exceptional start to his chasing career and has a race like this well within his compass. Trainer has outstanding record in this race.

Form: 1302-11

Bleu Et Rouge¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150

7/1

Also trained by champion trainer as he seeks to land this prize for seventh time in ten years. Won at this track on chase debut and unseated early in follow up bid. Can be a player in this race.

Form: 2/141F5-

Disko^h⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: S W Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 151

6/1

Another smart chaser in the making, not far behind Our Duke in three-mile Grade One novice at this track in December. Drops in trip and looks competitive again.

Form: 613313

Our Duke⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 153

11/4

Grade One novice scorer over three-miles at this track in December. Needed just about every yard to get up and looked an out-and-out stayer so no guarantee this reduced trip will see him to better effect.

Form: 121P3-

Forecasts

Bellshill (6/5), Our Duke (11/4), Disko (6/1), Bleu Et Rouge (7/1), A Toi Phil (12/1), Balko Des Flos (20/1)

Our Duke looked to relish the stamina test when scoring at this venue last time and, while respected, the drop in trip might not heed his case. Disko on the other hand might find it is to his use having finished close-up third in the same race. The champion trainer has farmed this race in recent times and has another strong hand to play now. Bellshill looks to be going the right way and has done little wrong so far over fences, he was best of these over hurdles but did get turned over in fine style by stablemate BLEU ET ROUGE at this venue in a top-class novice hurdle. Having unseated early last time, the selection has something to prove but, at the likely prices, he represents some value in this field. A Toi Phil comes back to this venue full of confidence following his big win last month and shouldn’t be discounted despite the step up in class. 1. Bleu Et Rouge 2. Bellshill 3. A Toi Phil