Gelding has class to make step up

TREACYSENNISCORTHY should be very tough to beat as he enters handicap chase company for the first time in the valuable Irish Stallion farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase at Navan today.

The powerfully-built eight-year-old has progressed dramatically since proving a shock winner of a modest beginners chase at Listowel in September, leaping a total of 36lb up the hurdle rankings thanks to a spectacular four-timer in that discipline.

Robert Widger’s gelding started his winning run at Punchestown in November, when operating off a mark of 102, before following-up at Punchestown in December.

His trainer threw Treacy in at the deep-end in the Pertemps Qualifier at Leopardstown over Christmas. And he delivered again, with Kevin Brouder on board this time, beating Ronald Pump, conceding 26lb to the winner who ran the race of his life when second to Lisnagar Oscar in the Stayers at Cheltenham on Thursday.

That Pertemps win was achieved off 119. And Treacys provided further proof of his rate of improvement when landing another valuable three-mile prize at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown, racing off 128 when outpointing The Jam Man in the William Fry.

Now rated 138 over hurdles, the selection makes his handicap chase debut off 119, with Kevin Brouder on board. And a sound round of jumping should see him transfer that impressive and progressive hurdle form to chasing.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained out of his depth when third behind Chacun Pour Soi and Ryanair victor Min in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase last time, is a token choice in the Grade 2 Webster Cup.

Earlier, Jessica Harrington’s

beaten by stablecompanion Port Stanley at Naas last time, is a more confident choice in the opener, the Bective Restaurant Maiden Hurdle, in which he’s preferred to the talented, but disappointing Mullins runner

The Willie Mullinstrained appeals in the Irish Stallion farms Novice Hurdle on the back of his maiden success over an inadequate trip of two miles at this venue last time.

He travelled strongly that day and found enough to keep subsequent winner The Very Man at bay. And both that form and his earlier third behind Cobbler’s Way and subsequent Thurles winner Sempo at Leopardstown entitle him to the vote.

He looks superior to stable-companion

and should have the edge over Dermot Mcloughlin’s

a dual winner at Down Royal.