28th-Oct-2023

Spillane’s Tower is a lovely chasing prospect, but I think that The Big Chap should be closer to him in the market than he is.

Winner of a competitive handicap hurdle at Sligo in July, it looks like Paul Flynn’s horse is going to be a better chaser than hurdler.  He unseated early on his chasing bow at Sligo last month, but he was very good in winning his beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse three weeks ago.

His jumping was very good, and he stayed on gallantly up the run-in to get the better of My Mate Mozzie, who is rated 144 over hurdles and who easily landed a novices’ chase at Cheltenham yesterday.

The Big Chap has to concede a 4lb penalty today, but that should be fine.  He doesn’t have a rating over fences yet, but it would be higher than his hurdles rating of 123 already, and there is every chance that he can progress again now.  The slight step up in trip today should suit, and he handles soft ground well.

THE BIG CHAP WON (ADV 4/1, SP 7/2)