3.15 3m. 170yds. 8 Declared. Naas Business Club Novice S'chase (Grade 3) of €27,500.00 5-y-o plus
1st - €16,500.00 2nd - €5,500.00 3rd - €2,750.00 4th - €1,375.00 5th - €825.00 6th - €550.00
FormscanBy Michael Graham - PENCILFULLOFLEAD brings very strong form to the contest. He was a seven-length winner of a Grade 2 at Punchestown in November before being caught in the closing stages of a Grade One at Limerick over Christmas. The horse that beat him by half a length there, Colreevy, franked the form with a wide-margin success in Thurles on Thursday. Pencilfulloflead is up in trip but was strong at the business end over an extended two miles six at Punchestown which bodes well. He has an 8lb penalty for that success which makes life harder but he is taken to defy it. His stablemate Escaria Ten really relished an extended three miles when landing a beginners' chase at Thurles by a whopping 20 lengths. That earned him his appearance in this company and he has to be given plenty of respect. Eklat De Rire made a good impression when winning on chasing debut at Punchestown last month. There should be plenty more to come from him, particularly with Henry de Bromhead identifying graded races in his post-race comments.
A novice steeplechase for five years old and upwardsWeights - 5-y-o 10st 8lbs 6-y-o and up 11st 2lbs Mares allowed 7lbsPenalties - Penalties (handicaps excluded) - Winner of two steeplechases 3lb extra Of three steeplechases or a Grade 3 steeplechase 6lb extra Of two Grade 3 steeplechases or a Grade 2 steeplechase 8lb extra Of a Grade 1 steeplechase 10lb extra