15:15 Naas

Sunday 31 January 2021

All12:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:15

Naas Racecourse Business Club Novice Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:39 | Winning time: 7m 5.5s

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Selected odds by:

Pencilfulloflead³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: G Elliott

5/2

Promising type. 13/2, creditable ½-length second of 5 to Colreevy in Faugheen Novices' Chase at Limerick (19.7f, heavy) 36 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Up in trip. Remains open to improvement.

Form: 214-112

Eklat De Rire⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

11/4

Looked a good prospect when winning 7-runner novice chase at Punchestown (25.7f, heavy) on debut over fences 54 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Better to come and not taken lightly up in grade.

Form: 121-1

Eleazar Des Neiges²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 135

28/1

Useful chaser. Excellent ¾-length second of 9 to Forza Milan in novice chase at Fairyhouse (21.2f, heavy, 5/1) 28 days ago, caught dying strides.

Form: 512-U42

Escaria Ten⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

11/4

Confirmed chasing debut promise when easy winner of 8-runner maiden chase at Thurles (25f, heavy) 42 days ago. Open to further improvement.

Form: 3110-51

Eurobot³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade

13/2

Opened account over fences at the second attempt at Thurles on return in November, but jumping issues resurfaced in Grade 1 at Leopardstown last time.

Form: 114/3-1U

Forza Milan²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: K J Brouder| T: J Nash| OR: 136

12/1

Opened account over fences in 9-runner novice at Fairyhouse (21.2f, heavy) 28 days ago, by ¾ length from Eleazar Des Neiges, suited by emphasis on stamina. This is obviously harder.

Form: 4-35841

Foxy Jacks^p³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Phillip Enright| T: M F Morris| OR: 132

40/1

Useful chaser who ran a thoroughly discouraging race (ran out last) in Neville Hotels Novices' Chase at Leopardstown (24f, soft) 33 days ago. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: U13P5R

Miss Pernickety^p¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 116| C

80/1

Made her second chase start a winning one in a very weak affair at this course (19f, heavy, 4/7) 18 days ago, driven out. Significantly up in trip. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 23P-241

Forecasts

Pencilfulloflead (5/2), Eklat De Rire (11/4), Escaria Ten (11/4), Eurobot (13/2), Forza Milan (12/1), Eleazar Des Neiges (28/1), Foxy Jacks (40/1), Miss Pernickety (80/1)

PENCILFULLOFLEAD has quickly made up into one of Ireland's top novice chasers and, with the potential for more to come now stepping up in trip, he has to be considered the one to beat. Eklat de Rire and Escaria Ten also look promising, though.