PUNCHESTOWN (19 Nov 2005)

Soft

2:45 Irish Field Novice Chase (Grade 3) (5yo+)

[off 2:45] £17,775.53, £5,215.25, £2,484.75, £846.45 2m6f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Slim Pickings Robert Tyner 6 11-2 D J Casey 11/8F — —

2 hd Kerryhead Windfarm Michael Hourigan 7 11-2 Andrew J McNamara 7/4 — —

3 13 Mamouna Gale E J O´Grady 7 11-3 J L Cullen 4/1 117 — —

4 6 Van Ness Michael John Phillips 6 11-2 N P Madden 16/1 104 — —

5 4½ Safe Route (USA) W J Austin 7 10-11 G Cotter 14/1 — —

5 ran TIME 6m 0.60s (slow by 29.60s) TOTAL SP 111%

1st OWNER: Doubtful Five Syndicate BRED: T A O'Donnell TRAINER: Robert Tyner

2nd OWNER: James R Browne

3rd OWNER: Victoria Syndicate

TOTE WIN £2.70 PL £1.80, £1.30; Ex £10.40; CSF £4.41

ANALYSIS: Supported to go one better than on his Galway chasing debut effort over this trip last month, SLIM PICKINGS held on under a strong drive in a messy race after leading four out. He idled in front and was not fluent at times but he did enough. The Grade 1 Ascon Novice Chase over 3m is on the agenda for the former winning pointer who will appreciate stepping up in trip.
Kerryhead Windfarm emerged as the main threat to the winner from the second last and was staying on under pressure from the last. He wasn't foot perfect also at times and going further should play into his hands.
Mamouna Gale was upped 2lb to 117 over fences after his second in handicap company at Limerick over a furlong shorter last time. The previous course-and-distance winner brought then along at a steady pace up front but once the winner took it up four out he soon began to struggle.
The 104-rated Van Ness tracked the longtime leader for a time until finding the going tough while Safe Route was another to weaken from the fourth last.