Ballydine Beginners Chase

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 7m 5.3s

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Selected odds by:

Augustin⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins

4/5

Win of a bumper and a maiden hurdle. Ran respectably on chasing bow after eight-month absence when runner-up in similar event at Punchestown seven weeks ago and should be straighter here. Rates a leading contender for top yard.

Form: 4/012P-2

Fire In His Eyes^p,t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 121

13/8

Landed bumper and two novice hurdles in 2016 but patchy form so far over fences. Cheekpieces appeared to improve him a little last time when runner-up at Thurles. Obvious chance in this company but has found winning difficult in the last year.

Form: 5-43472

Hanover Street⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J Halley

10/1

Galileo gelding won minor maiden hurdle at Tramore in summer 2016. Inconsistent since but just touched off at Clonmel in November in modest handicap hurdle. Not an obvious chaser on breeding so may be best watched on fencing bow.

Form: 08-0247

Irish Mustard³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Colville

16/1

Eight-race maiden but went close in very modest handicap hurdle at Limerick at Christmas. Well beaten since. Chasing bow here but on evidence to date looks out of his depth.

Form: 0007-20

So Influential^b1²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr C L Murphy⁽⁷⁾| T: E Sheehy

25/1

Winning point-to-pointer but has mainly struggled under Rules. Runner-up in Tramore maiden hurdle in December but three poor efforts since. Wears first-time blinkers for this chasing bow. Others make far more appeal.

Form: 34-2550

Askcalie⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keane

50/1

100/1 on both hurdles starts, pulling up when well behind last time out having shown little in previous effort. Looks up against it on her chasing debut and cannot be recommended.

Form: P2-30P

Forecasts

Augustin (4/5), Fire In His Eyes (13/8), Hanover Street (10/1), Irish Mustard (16/1), So Influential (25/1), Askcalie (50/1)

This looks a straight fight between AUGUSTIN and Fire In His Eyes, both representing top yards. Preference is for the former, who made a satisfactory start over fences last time and handles the testing conditions. If there are any flaws in the selection the more experienced Fire In His Eyes will be the most likely beneficiary. Of the other four, Hanover Street may have the most scope but they look a modest quartet.