16:33 Navan

Saturday 23 March 2024

All14:1714:5015:2515:5816:3317:0817:38

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase Final (Listed)

Off time: 16:34 | Winning time: 7m 10.0s

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Selected odds by:

Battle It Out^h²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: C G O'Dwyer⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 127

4/1

6/1, career best when winning 10-runner handicap chase at Naas (20f, heavy) 27 days ago, staying on strongly over the longest trip he's faced to date over fences. Of interest once more now stamina is tested further.

Form: 1-9F341

Folcano^p⁴⁸³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 127

28/1

Useful handicap hurdler who showed promise on each of his first 2 starts over fences during 2022. Absent since finishing down the field in a Gowran maiden (20f, heavy) 16 months ago so interesting what the market makes of him on belated return/handicap debut.

Form: 490/347-

Paul Marvel¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 126

6/1

Promising type. Very good second of 10 in novice chase at Leopardstown (17f, heavy, 18/1) 19 days ago, closing all way to line. Stable in good form. Makes handicap chase debut. Should go well again.

Form: 13-4542

Clonmeen^t³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: S D Torrens| T: William P Murphy| OR: 123

14/1

2 wins from 6 runs this season. 10/1, creditable third of 15 in handicap chase at Punchestown (27f, heavy) 34 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: P82113

Ask Anything^t1⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 122

3/1

Hurdles winner who matched form in that sphere when landing Down Royal maiden (20f) in December. Not in same form when fourth of 8 in rated novice chase back at that venue (16.5f) in January but this marked step up in trip a likely plus now handicapping.

Form: 9-12214

Bushmans Pass³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan| OR: 116| BF

7/1

2 wins from 6 runs this season. Latest win in chase at Fairyhouse in January. 7/2, respectable third of 10 in handicap chase at Gowran (20f, heavy) 35 days ago.

Form: 599113

The Gradual Slope¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: M M McDonagh⁽³⁾| T: S O O'Brien| OR: 114

20/1

Fairly useful winner at 18f over hurdles. 8/1, respectable second of 8 in handicap chase at Limerick (17.5f, heavy) 13 days ago, that despite being badly hampered 2 out. Significantly back up in trip.

Form: 8PP432

Verdant Place⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: M P Walsh| T: P T Foley| OR: 113| D

6/1

Fairly useful winner at 3m over hurdles. Pulled up in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (21.2f, heavy, 7/2) 59 days ago, won by Bushmans Pass. Others more persuasive.

Form: 0-5560P

Brucejack¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: P A Fahy| OR: 106

17/2

7/2, creditable second of 12 in novice chase at Thurles (20.8f, soft) 18 days ago. Longer trip could unlock a little more improvement now handicapping in this sphere.

Form: 1-P4842

Malton Groove^h¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Patrick M O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 99

14/1

28/1 and hooded for 1st time, respectable fourth of 13 in novice hurdle at Thurles (20.6f, soft) 18 days ago, running on late. Switches from hurdles to chase. Makes handicap chase debut.

Form: PF-8764

Non-Runners

Galon De Vauzelle²⁷

Weight: 11-1| Age: 8

T: P J Rothwell J: P J O'Hanlon

Forecasts

Ask Anything (3/1), Battle It Out (4/1), Paul Marvel (6/1), Verdant Place (6/1), Bushmans Pass (7/1), Brucejack (17/2), Malton Groove (14/1), Clonmeen (14/1), Galon De Vauzelle (16/1), The Gradual Slope (20/1), Folcano (28/1)

A low-mileage winner over hurdles, PAUL MARVEL continued his theme of race-by-race progress over fences when runner-up at Leopardstown 3 weeks ago, and with the prospect of even more to come now handicapping over this markedly longer trip, he could be the answer. Battle It Out, who was impressive when successful at Naas 4 weeks ago, rates the chief threat, with Ask Anything and Bushmans Pass completing the shortlist.