Benbulben begins chase career Mount Benbulben, one of the best novice hurdlers last season, makes his debut over fences in Wednesday's Panoramic Restaurant Raceday Hospitality Beginners Chase at Punchestown. The seven-year-old, a winning point-to-pointer, won a Grade Two at Navan last season before chasing home Boston Bob in a Grade One back at that track. He was last seen finishing seventh in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March behind the ill-fated Brindisi Breeze on ground which he found too quick. "I can't wait to get him back out," said his trainer Gordon Elliott. "He's schooled very well and he's always been viewed by us as a chaser. "We've not been able to get him away for a racecourse gallop though, so he is bound to come on for the run. "He looks made for fences. He was good last year but we hope he'll have an even better season this year." Elliott admits that Mae's Choice will need to improve again this season as she begins her campaign in the Grade Three Grabel Mares Hurdle. The six-year-old progressed from running in novice hurdles at Musselburgh and Ayr to winning a Grade Three event at the Punchestown Festival. Because of that victory she is giving weight away to all her seven rivals, including the promising Willie Mullins-trained Tarla, who needs to bounce back from a poor run on the Flat. "Mae's Choice won a Grade Three in Punchestown and that was a massive career-best from her," said Elliott. "She's strengthened up really nicely over the summer and we think she's improved but she'll have to up her game this season. "We sort of threw her in at the deep end at Punchestown but she came out the other side with the goods. She'll need to step up again now."
