11:50 Doncaster

Friday 15 December 2017

All11:5012:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:20

grandnational.fans Handicap Chase

Off time: 11:50 | Winning time: 4m 55.00s

The Tailgater¹⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 122

8/1

Successful three times in a 14 race career but failed to build on a promising third on chase debut at Warwick (2m4f, good) when well beaten at Market Rasen in June. Returning from a break today.

Form: 26F-134

Cajun Fiddle⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 119

7/1

Fair effort when finishing 22L fourth on handicap debut at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) in October. Was beaten a head off this 3lb lower mark over hurdles in January and is one to note in this contest.

Form: 4235P-4

Sister Sibyl²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: N de Boinville| T: H Morrison| OR: 116

9/2

Winner twice over hurdles and ran well when finishing third at Warwick (2m4f, good-to-soft) on chase debut last month. Races off the same mark today and is likely to give another good account.

Form: 9/1210-3

Masterplan²⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 115| D

10/1

Improving with racing since switched to chasing and off the mark at the fourth attempt when victorious over 2m4f at Towcester (good-to-firm) in the spring. Races off a 3lb higher mark on today's seasonal debut.

Form: 00/6561-

Baileys Concerto^p,t²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 114

25/1

Winner of five of his 35 chase starts but the most recent of those was over three years ago. Handicap mark is falling but likely to find a few too good today.

Form: 442395

Kilronan Castle^p¹²^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 102| D

5/2

Made all when justifying favouritism in first time cheekpieces (retained) over 2m4f at Leicester (good-to-firm) earlier this month. Effectively 2lb well in carrying just a 7lb penalty for that victory.

Form: 3P2-691

Baron Du Plessis²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 103

3/1

Maiden after 13 starts and was beaten 17L when finishing runner-up over an extended 2m7f at Chepstow (heavy) last time out. Drops in trip racing off the same mark today.

Form: 7255-52

Non-Runners

Muwalla¹⁵

Weight: 10-11| Age: 10

T: Miss L Harrison J: Callum Bewley

Forecasts

Kilronan Castle (5/2), Baron Du Plessis (3/1), Sister Sibyl (9/2), Cajun Fiddle (7/1), Muwalla (15/2), The Tailgater (8/1), Masterplan (10/1), Baileys Concerto (25/1)

KILRONAN CASTLE is taken to follow up his recent impressive Leicester success by taking this contest for trainer Donald McCain. The selection hails from a stable who can boast a 23% strike-rate (7/31) of late and is taken to get the better of Sister Sybil, who shaped with promise when third on chasing debut last time out. Cajun Fiddle can improve on October's chase debut by finishing third in this contest.