14:55 Leopardstown

Tuesday 28 December 2021

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Ballymaloe Relish Beginners Chase

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 5m 29.9s

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Selected odds by:

Ain't That A Shame¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

10/1

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules and made an encouraging start to his chase career when third in maiden at Fairyhouse (21f, soft) 17 days ago. Should improve.

Form: 2/531-3

Blue Sari^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: M P Walsh| T: W P Mullins

5/1

Made a highly promising chasing debut when second of 18 in maiden event at Navan (20f, good to soft) 24 days ago. Open to improvement.

Form: 4P/PFP-2

Column Of Fire^p¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott

80/1

Smart hurdler but well held all 3 starts over fences.

Form: 3F/0-800

Crosshill³³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Mrs J Harrington| D

9/1

Useful hurdler who made a promising chasing debut when second in 8-runner maiden at Thurles (18f, good to soft) 33 days ago. Likely to improve.

Form: 2F428-2

Floueur^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott

10/1

Useful hurdler who fared better than previously in this sphere when third in 9-runner maiden (9/1) at Fairyhouse (21f, good) 31 days ago.

Form: 6663P-3

Galopin Des Champs²⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

4/7

Much improved switched to handicap company when impressive winner of 22-runner Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival last time. Followed up in Grade 1 at Punchestown and should make a chaser.

Form: 12P611-

Il Courra⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr S Cavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: C W J Farrell

33/1

Fairly useful hurdler who posted good fifth of 18 in maiden chase at Naas (19f, good to soft) on debut over fences 52 days ago. Remains to be seen if he's able to back that up.

Form: F2-1565

Opposites Attract^t1⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: B J Cooper| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 134

25/1

Useful chaser. Struck into when pulled up in handicap chase (4/1) at Cheltenham (25f, good to soft) 45 days ago, folding after 3 out. Tongue strap on 1st time.

Form: 22420-P

Non-Runners

Fury Road³⁰

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: G Elliott J: Jack Kennedy

Forecasts

Galopin Des Champs (4/7), Fury Road (3/1), Blue Sari (5/1), Crosshill (9/1), Ain't That A Shame (10/1), Floueur (10/1), Opposites Attract (25/1), Il Courra (33/1), Column Of Fire (80/1)

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS confirmed the big impression he had made in the Martin Pipe when following up in a Grade 1 event at Punchestown in April, so he has to be considered the one to beat on this switch to chasing. His stablemate Blue Sari commands plenty of respect following an eye-catching start to his chasing career at Navan, with Fury Road another to take seriously.