Racecards
15:20 Navan (IRE)
Flower Hill Beginners Chase
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- €13,000 added
- Winner: €7,995
- 2nd: €2,470
- 3rd: €1,170
- 4th: €519
- Form 11-4F34
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer M S Sandra Hughes
- Jockey R Loughran
made all, jumped right, slight mistake 4th and again 3 out, ridden from 2 out, strongly pressed at last, stayed on well on stands' side run-in
- Form 2203-02
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
tracked leader in 2nd throughout, ridden after 3 out, strongly pressed winner at last, kept on same pace run-in
Burgas (FR)
26- Form 13P-323
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer N Meade
- Jockey S W Flanagan
tracked leaders in 3rd for most, ridden in moderate 3rd 3 out, soon no impression, dropped to remote 4th inside final furlong
- Form 4P/U24U
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey J W Kennedy
held up towards rear, slight mistakes 1st and 2nd, moderate 5th when slight mistake 4 out, remote 4th 3 out, soon ridden, went remote 3rd inside final furlong
- Form P1/4-438
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
mid-division, slight mistake 5th, pulled up before next
- Form 214866
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey K M Donoghue
tracked leaders in moderate 4th, slight mistake 7th, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
- Form 1-42245
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
always towards rear, remote 5th halfway, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
Dorkas
13- Form 2221/7
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer J R Finn
- Jockey B T O'Connell
always behind, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
- Form 211-P05
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer D H Kelly
- Jockey P E Corbett
always behind, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
Verdict
Useful hurdler Arbre De Vie has been a short-priced favourite on both starts over fences but has finished runner-up each time and couldn't make any inroads on Balko Des Flos at Fairyhouse. He's likely to improve but ACAPELLA BOURGEOIS looks a safer option. Sandra Hughes' charge, also smart over hurdles, didn't run quite as well as expected last time after a close third behind Martello Tower at Fairyhouse, when Moonshine Lad was behind, but can hopefully bounce back to that kind of form. Burgas should be winning soon judged on two decent efforts over fences.
Formwatch
Acapella Bourgeois (FR) 11-4 (11-12) Led and disputed, ridden entering straight, headed approaching last, no extra run-in and kept on same pace in 4th closing stages, 4th of 11, 7 1/4l behind Bleu Et Rouge (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 3f Yielding in Dec.
Arbre De Vie (FR) Evensfav (11-12) Held up, moderate 5th halfway, closer in 3rd 4 out and left 2nd, ridden 2 out, no impression on winner before last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 16l behind Balko Des Flos (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f sft in Jan.
Burgas (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, challenged 2 out, soon ridden, no impression last, 3rd and kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 10, 3 3/4l behind Last Goodbye (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f sft in Dec.
Moonshine Lad (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, mistake and unseated rider 6th, at Down Royal 2m 4f sft in Dec.
Robin De Roost (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 4th from 2nd, soon well off pace, not fluent 5th, no extra from 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 9, dist behind Yorkhill (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Steamboat Bill (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division, pushed along briefly 4th, ridden and no impression before 4 out, slight mistake 3 out, weakened, 6th of 10, dist behind Last Goodbye (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f sft in Dec.
Dont Kick Nor Bite (IRE) 11-4 (10-11) Rear of mid-division, progress into 4th and ridden 2 out, no impression before last, 5th of 10, 23 1/2l behind Duke Cass (10-8) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp sft in Dec.
Dorkas 25-1 (11-7) Impeded 1st, in rear, not fluent 4th and 5th, closer in 6th before straight, no extra and not fluent last, 7th of 8, 32 3/4l behind Slowmotion (11-1) at Naas 2m sft in Jan.
Twiss's Hill (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, slight mistake 6th, 5th from 7th, moderate 4th when slight mistake 4 out, soon no impression, not fluent 2 out, one pace, 5th of 11, dist behind Benie Des Dieux (11-7) at Limerick 2m 4f Soft - Heavy in Dec.