Racecards
14:20 Tramore (IRE)
Savills New Year's Day Chase (Grade 3) (Class 1)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f
- Going: Soft to Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- €32,500 added
- Winner: €19,500
- 2nd: €6,500
- 3rd: €3,250
- 4th: €1,625
- Form 61/2510-
- Age 12
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 155
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey J B Foley
led, headed 8th, 3rd when mistake next, slow 10th and dropped to rear, soon weakened and pulled up
- Form 211/132-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 170
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Paul Townend
raced in 2nd until led 8th, slight mistake next and 6 out, not fluent 4 out, 3 lengths clear 3 out, pushed along after 2 out, kept on well from last, comfortably
- Form 01-0233
- Age 11
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 157
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey J S McGarvey
held up in rear, slow 2nd and not fluent next, mistake 9th, soon 3rd, slight mistake 4 out, ridden and no impression after 2 out, mistake last, kept on one pace
- Form 1/2624-3
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 156
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Brian Hayes
raced in 3rd, went 2nd before 9th, ridden and no impression after 2 out, kept on same pace
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
It's almost three years to the day that Hardline won a Grade 1 novices' chase at Limerick but his career hasn't gone to plan and that was his last victory. He's the only one of this sextet not trained by Willie Mullins and it will be a shock if he, or anything else, can prevent AL BOUM PHOTO winning this for the fourth time in succession. He used this in 2019/20 as a prelude to landing two Cheltenham Gold Cups and only failed by just over five lengths to make it a magnificent three a year ago. Acapella Bourgeois has finished a well-beaten runner-up in the last two of these while Brahma Bull is a tough handicapper. Annamix had the latter a couple of lengths behind when they were placed behind Galvin at Punchestown and that form has been boosted while Burrows Saint is probably warming up for another crack at the Grand National where he finished fourth last year.
Formwatch
Acapella Bourgeois (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, mistake and lost place 4th, mistake 9th (valentines), headway before 17th, mistake 18th, losing place when pecked 22nd (bechers 2nd time), well behind 26th, 13th of 40, dist behind Minella Times (10-3) at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Al Boum Photo (FR) 6-4fav (11-12) Held up behind leaders, 5th halfway, closer in 4th 7 out, challenged 3 out, ridden to dispute entering straight, mistake 2 out, soon under pressure in 2nd, slight mistake last, kept on run-in without reaching winner, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Clan Des Obeaux (11-12) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding in Apr.
Brahma Bull (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Towards rear, stayed on from 4 out, never in contention, 3rd of 21, 28 1/2l behind Cloudy Glen (10-8) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Burrows Saint (FR) 4-1 (11-2) Chased leader, slight mistake 6th, 4th halfway, 3rd 3 out, pushed along and no impression before 2 out, no extra and eased run-in, 3rd of 8, dist behind Western Victory (11-5) at Clonmel 3m Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Annamix (FR) 28-1 (11-8) Mid-division, ridden home turn and soon beaten, fell 3 out, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Hardline (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, slight mistake 3 out and soon no extra, weakened and eased, well behind when jumped left last, tailed off, last of 4, dist behind Fakir D'Oudairies (12-0) at Clonmel 2m 5f (1) sft in Nov.