Tote Supporting Irish Racing Beginners Chase

Off time: 12:15 | Winning time: 6m 43.5s

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Selected odds by:

Ballyward²⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

9/4

143-rated hurdler. Ran well at the Cheltenham Festival, when finishing 6L fourth to the more experienced Kilbricken Storm before a solid run at the Punchestown festival. Big player on chasing debut.

Form: 21/4144-

C'Est Jersey²⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| C

7/2

Second in a Grade B handicap hurdle at the Punchestown festival on final start of last season. 136-rated hurdler worth a market check on chasing introduction.

Form: 1/2P052-

Kagney¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade

25/1

Nothing of note in a number of chasing starts including a couple earlier this month. Plenty to prove in this contest.

Form: 121/2F9

Shady Operator²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| BF

7/4

Bumper winner and useful as novice over timber last term, promising third of 12 beaten 10L on chasing debut. Trainer has his string in excellent form right now but this is a major step up in trip.

Form: 1/2122-3

Shawshank⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: P Nolan

9/1

Presenting gelding out of a Fair Mix mare. Winner of two of his three career point-to-point starts and appears to be an interesting recruit over the larger obstacles.

Form: 5-11

The Conditional⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R Loughran| T: M Hassett

14/1

Modest 124-rated hurdler and failed to build on a promising chasing debut when falling when leading in a Thurles beginners contest earlier this month. Worth another chance.

Form: 140-24F

Alighting^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J P O'Brien

33/1

Five-race maiden hurdler who burst a blood vessel on chasing debut in a Grade 3 contest earlier this month. Clearly highly thought of and worth a market check.

Form: 03360-P

Forecasts

Shady Operator (7/4), Ballyward (9/4), C'Est Jersey (7/2), Shawshank (9/1), The Conditional (14/1), Kagney (25/1), Alighting (33/1)

Trainer Willie Mullins has taken three of the last six renewals of this contest and his BALLYWARD can get the better of stablemate C'est Jersey in this intriguing contest. The Paul Nolan-trained Shawshank won two of his three point-to-point starts and could be capable of hitting the frame along with the J P McManus, owned/Joseph O'Brien, trained, Shady Operator.