Florida Pearl Novice Chase Tips & Betting Preview

Lots of talent on show over 2 miles 6 furlongs at Punchestown with a number of these likely to have the big spring Festivals in their sights. Read on for our expert’s tip and runner-by-runner preview.

IN SUMMARY: A tasty looking novice chase with five of the six likely to be well enough thought of by connections to consider lofty spring targets. Gigginstown have a strong hand and could easily have the first three home. A Toi Phil and Nambour both look like making better chasers than hurdlers and are highly respected. The vote however goes to DISKO who has the most star potential about him while trainer Noel Meade has made no attempt to hide the high regard in which he holds his charge.  

1 A Toi Phil – Undeniably talented as he showed winning a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Leopardstown in January, he also has his quirks. He made no mistake on his chasing debut at Down Royal on ground arguably on the lively side for him. The level of opposition that day was far inferior to this, but he looked a chaser in the making last season and it would be no surprise to see him step up plenty with that run under his belt.

2 Disko – An athletic grey, he looked as if anything accomplished over hurdles would just be a bonus. Aside from one bad mistake on his chasing debut, he jumped tidily, looking a natural over the bigger obstacles. Trainer Noel Meade thinks the world of him and it’s easy to see why, he has star potential and could be difficult to beat.

3 Georges Conn – By far the most experienced of these over fences, with eleven runs already on his CV. He is yet to win a chase and it would be a substantial surprise were he to break his duck at the 12th attempt.

4 Jetstream Jack – Progressive over hurdles last year, signing off with a fine runner up effort behind Welsh Shadow at Ayr. He made a winning chasing debut with the minimum of fuss at Tipperary and there should be more to come. This is more difficult and he was found out against better opposition over hurdles. However there is still plenty of room for improvement.

5 Nambour – Another who always looked to have the size to make a better chaser when running over hurdles. He was a winner of his sole point-to-point, beating the useful Jonniesofa and making it 1/1 under rules over fences on his seasonal reappearance. He has wins to his credit on soft, though his best efforts came on better ground in the spring. Nevertheless, he looks the type to perfectly suit staying chaser maestro Mouse Morris.

6 Space Cadet – Rattled up a string of seconds over hurdles with questions aplenty about his attitude. There was no sign of that on his chasing debut when a comfortable winner at Roscommon, but it’s hard to shake that general perception that when push comes to shove, he will find less than looks likely.