15:35 Down Royal

Friday 3 November 2017

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Toals Bookmakers Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 4m 13.20s

Elusive Ivy¹¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: G N Fox| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 126| D

5/1

Won a handicap chase at Leopardstown in January but struggled off her new mark in two subsequent starts. Looks in need of some relief from the handicapper.

Form: F2133-6

Eight Till Late^p¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: P Casey| OR: 123| D

4/1

Put together a string of fine wins over the summer with two chase wins and a hurdle win at Sligo. Now 6lb higher than last win and may find a couple on better marks.

Form: 111332

Bilko¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 122| BF

11/4

Seven-race chase maiden for powerful connections. Excuses running out of late and needs to improve sooner rather than later.

Form: 343F26

Mount Beckham²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: C Cannon| OR: 119| CD

10/1

Course winner that has won over this trip and has decent form on the going, in the class and in fields of this size. Market likely to reveal expectations on handicap debut.

Form: 700-423

Benemeade^b¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 118

16/1

Has produced three below-par performances in his last three chases and will need a chunk of improvement to play a role here.

Form: 0-40768

Ontopoftheworld²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A L T Moore| OR: 113

10/1

Made slow start to chasing career but ran three straight solid races at Navan early in the year, before a second-rate performance at Galway last month beaten 84L. Others make more appeal.

Form: 66212-8

Crazywork De Vassy³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: M A Enright| T: M J McDonagh| OR: 110

5/1

Improvement on last start needs to be continued here but looks vulnerable in this company. Looks a tall order on previous chase form.

Form: 440662

Dallas Cowboy^h,t¹⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: John J Fitzpatrick⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 107

10/1

Made favourite on first run for yard at Kilbeggan recently but again ran well below par and finished last of seven before another below-par performance at Punchestown in May. Worth a market check on return to the track.

Form: P338-75

The Shepherd King^p,t⁶¹

Age: 13| Weight: 9-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: R K Watson| OR: 86| D

25/1

Well into the veteran stage now and a record of just three wins from 44 starts rather tells it's own story.

Form: 0-57743

Forecasts

Bilko (11/4), Eight Till Late (4/1), Crazywork De Vassy (5/1), Elusive Ivy (5/1), Dallas Cowboy (10/1), Ontopoftheworld (10/1), Mount Beckham (10/1), Benemeade (16/1), The Shepherd King (25/1)

Outsider The Shepherd King and the Peter Casey-trained Eight Till Late will possibly set a good clip in the early stages of this contest. Bilko doesn't look trustworthy at the moment and Crazywork De Vassy isn't consistent enough so preference is for the improving MOUNT BECKHAM who has decent form on the going, in the class and in fields of this size.