2m3½f BoyleSports Faugheen Novice Chase (Grade 1)
There’s a top class field lining up in the Faugheen Novice Chase Grade 1 over at Limerick on Boxing Day, which looks a much better race than the equivalent Grade 1 Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
Gabynako is just favourite with the bookies currently, having shown decent form in his first three starts over fences. Rated 142 over hurdles, Gabynako showed a lot of potential over as a novice but has probably achieved more as a chaser. He was unlucky not to win the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase, leading out the race before his jumping let him down at the finish to allow Beacon Edge to claim an unlikely success.
Last year’s Albert Bartlett winner, Vanillier is another classy individual for Gavin Cromwell in this, but Vaniellier definitely wants further and I don’t think he has the tactical speed for this race. Lieutenant Command is another that looks like he will be a better chaser than hurdler and could improve for his maiden victory over fences. He looks interesting at bigger prices.
But I really fancy the chances of FAROUK D’ALENE here and I am keen to go big on him in this race as I think he is a Grade 1 Chaser in the making. He turned up at this meeting last year in similar ground to comfortably outstay the reopposing Vanillier over 2m 7f and will absolute love the deep ground. The trip is possibly as short as Farouk D’alene would like to go, but he has enough speed to win over it having also won some decent two mile hurdles and bumpers. I’d expect Gabynako to go off hard in any case making this a true stamina test regardless.
Farouk D’alene’s first start over fences was a pretty smart performance considering he has been off-the-track for 341-days and Gordon Elliott has spoken openly about how he expected his novice chaser to come on for it. If the selection can show a normal level of improvement from his first start then I think he is going to be very hard to beat and I’m keen to get on him the 11/4 now before his price shortens.
2pts win Farouk D’alene @11/4, 14:40 Limerick, Sunday
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