Racing Again February 24th Novice Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 4m 56.6s

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Selected odds by:

Alto Esqua²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: C Byrnes| OR: 118| D

2/1

Lightly raced for his age, but was most fortunate in making a winning start over fences at Listowel in September (2m1f heavy), and it's fair to say that he's failed to deliver the goods since. Down in trip for handicap debut.

Form: 17/2-144

Head Turner¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: R Loughran| T: P A Fahy| OR: 108| D

11/4

A four time hurdles winner (2m to 2m4f) she looks to be slowly getting her act together with more chasing experience. Probably didn't get home over 2m5f+ on handicap chase debut at Thurles recently, but a force to be reckoned with over 2m.

Form: 40-6453

Joxer¹⁰⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr D Crean⁽⁷⁾| T: W Harney| OR: 107| D

7/1

Veteran who hasn't achieved much in 23 career starts, and is winless since January 2012. A nine race maiden over fences, it'll surely be 0 from 10 after lining up here.

Form: 4P75-69

Don't Let Go³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: R A Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 99

10/1

Chasing hasn't looked her game so far, and whilst her fencing will be less under strain in a novices handicap event than a beginners chase, she wouldn't make obvious appeal as a potential winner despite lurking from a very workable handicap mark.

Form: 0-419F4

The Ballyboys^p1¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: A E Lynch| T: R Hackett| OR: 94

3/1

Dismal on his sole career start over fences at Clonmel in September (3m), you'd be taking a huge leap of faith if choosing to believe that he can translate his subsequent improvement over hurdles back to fences. Wears cheek-pieces.

Form: 457016

Jimmyjames¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 88

14/1

A 16 race career maiden who races from out of the weights. Has limited experience over fences (just the sole start), but pushing the boundaries to imagine that he'll be anywhere near strong enough.

Form: 056766

Forecasts

Alto Esqua (2/1), Head Turner (11/4), The Ballyboys (3/1), Joxer (7/1), Don't Let Go (10/1), Jimmyjames (14/1)

A low key finale in which a number of the runners have questions to answer over fences, not least (the admittedly well-weighted) filly Don't Let Go. Alto Esqua is a winner over fences; albeit a most fortuitous one, but the Charles Byrnes trained eight-year-old faces a much more realistic assignment on his handicap debut. However, the standout performer is Peter Fahy's HEAD TURNER. She looks to be gradually getting her act together over fences, and travelled well throughout when failing to see out an extended 2m5f trip at Thurles recently, and this drop back to a more suitable distance (2m) should see her off the mark over the larger obstacles at the fifth attempt.