12:40 Down Royal

Tuesday 26 December 2017

All12:1012:4013:1013:4514:1514:5015:25

Adam & Ann Armstrong Memorial Handicap Chase (0-102)

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 5m 33.00s

Slemish³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr J J Codd| T: J T R Dreaper| OR: 101| BF

7/2

Couple of promising efforts in defeat over fences this season most recently when fourth at Gowran Park (2m, heavy) a month ago. Tongue tie worn for the first time on that occasion is absent today.

Form: 2375-44

Dorkas^t⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: J R Finn| OR: 100

5/1

Successful over an extended 3m at Sligo (yielding-to-soft) in a handicap chase in August and the drop in trip didn't appear to inconvenience her when second on her return to hurdles at Thurles (heavy) last time. One for the shortlist today.

Form: F32F32

Honest Robber¹⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: M Torrens| OR: 97| C

8/1

Winner of his final outing over 3m here for his previous stable but well held on seasonal debut over hurdles earlier this month and more is needed today.

Form: 44691-0

Moonlone Lane^p²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: P Stafford| OR: 93| CD

16/1

Disappointing in two starts since winning this contest last year. Under pressure when hampered last time out and he races off a mark 2lb higher than for last years victory this time around.

Form: 00U1-P0

The Informer^t¹²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Flanagan| T: S Fahey| OR: 93

7/1

Dual winner over hurdles including at Galway (soft) over an extended 2m in August. Disappointed last time out however and the hood worn on that occasion is absent for this.

Form: 0-2P135

Rare Legend^p¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: M J Bolger| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 92

10/1

Winner of a staying handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (good-to-soft) last month but disappointed on his return to fences at Exeter (soft) last time out. Dropping markedly in trip today.

Form: 02-313P

Western Goose¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: L P Dempsey| T: V C Ward| OR: 90| D

14/1

Finished a good third over hurdles at Punchestown (2m6f, soft-to-heavy) a month ago but disappointed subsequently and races off a mark 4lb higher than for her latest success.

Form: 007537

Witness Of Fashion^p⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: P Rooney| OR: 89| CD

10/1

Took this contest off a 4lb lower mark two years ago and was the winner over 2m5f at Fairyhouse (soft) last month. Disappointed at the same venue subsequently and was a first fence casualty at Thurles last time out.

Form: 798-16F

Goldmineinthesky⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: W Ross| OR: 88

25/1

Dual winner in point-to-point company in 2016 and took a C&D hunter chase on soft ground in March of that year. Struggled in handicaps since and more needed today.

Form: 12/039-8

Bard Of Armagh¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: K J Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 90

10/1

Well held in all eight starts over obstacles so far including three times over fences. Represents a shrewd yard and likely to fare better now tackling handicaps.

Form: 00609P

One Cool Clarkson³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: B R Dalton| T: N McKnight| OR: 80

12/1

Four time point-to-point winner including when left in the lead two out at Portrush (soft-to-heavy) in October. Pulled up in that sphere since and placed just twice in ten starts over fences.

Form: 2534-1P

Glacial Shadow¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: S J Gray⁽³⁾| T: D Broad| OR: 78

20/1

Placed in a point-to-point from three starts but well held since returning to rules racing and the market is likely to provide the best guide as to expectations on handicap debut.

Form: F28-96U

Willow Grange^b,t¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: C A Landers⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 78

20/1

Winner over fences at Sligo (3m, heavy) in August last year. Races off a 5lb lower mark today but needs to return to form having pulled up on each of his last three outings.

Form: 803PPP

Alices Man^b¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: S J Crimin⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 72

16/1

Pulled up on each of his last two outings but did win a handicap hurdle over an extended 2m7f at Hexham (soft) in October. More needed today however.

Form: 8614PP

Forecasts

Slemish (7/2), Dorkas (5/1), The Informer (7/1), Honest Robber (8/1), Rare Legend (10/1), Witness Of Fashion (10/1), Bard Of Armagh (10/1), One Cool Clarkson (12/1), Western Goose (14/1), Moonlone Lane (16/1), Alices Man (16/1), Glacial Shadow (20/1), Willow Grange (20/1), Goldmineinthesky (25/1)

DORKAS has been in good form this year and she ran well to finish runner-up to a progressive rival off a 2lb higher mark over hurdles last time out. The selection has good form on the forecast heavy ground and is taken to get the better of Witness Of Fashion, victorious in this race in 2015 who can put a couple of disappointments behind him on his return to this venue. Of the remainder top weight Slemish put in a decent effort to finish fourth last time out and can claim third this time.