15:50 Downpatrick

Sunday 24 March 2019

All14:1514:4515:2015:5016:2517:0017:30

toalsbet.com Ulster National Irish EBF Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 7m 30.20s

Out Sam^t,v⁵⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-1| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 140

3/1

Winner of a similar event at Cork (good to yielding) in November and returned from a break with a promising 13L fourth in Thyestes Chase over 3m1f at Gowran Park (soft) in January. Interesting contender for a leading stable, with visor back on.

Form: 33-1574

Logical Song⁵⁰⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Danny Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 133

12/1

King's Theatre 10-year-old, doesn't have big miles on the clock. Last spotted easily winning the Cork National in 2017 (career-best); he'll have to defy 16-month absence and a 10lb higher mark on return. Don't discount him.

Form: 772131-

Teacher's Pet^t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 129| C

7/1

Mare has been waiting a long time between drinks (19 runs) and is just 2-23 over fences all told. Best form is over shorter in any case and looks up against it now.

Form: 36423U

Danse Away^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Paul Townend| T: T J Nagle-Jr| OR: 122

9/2

Lacks experience over fences but taking to it well enough this season including Navan handicap win in November (2m4f, yielding to soft). Stayed 3m well enough at Naas last month (second) and interesting if coping with this stamina test.

Form: 012182

Amaulino^p,t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: A Ring| T: R K Watson| OR: 121

8/1

Had School Lane 8½L behind in second when winning a decent Leopardstown handicap this month (2m5½f, good to yielding), returning to form in first-time headgear combo (retained). Nagging doubt over this trip remains.

Form: 587741

Undressed^b⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 116

10/1

Just one win from 19 over fences, coming in February 2018 over 2m at Gowran Park. Didn't appear to relish 3m at Down Royal in January on sole try at that trip. Needs a career-best with Rachel Blackmore taking over.

Form: 59-4PPP

Tongie¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: P A Fahy| OR: 112

7/1

Six-time winner for Gordon Elliott yet to really fire in four starts for current yard this season. Cheekpieces back on now but opposable on recent form.

Form: 0-38632

King's Song^p²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-12| J: M A Enright| T: D Broad| OR: 109

20/1

Six-time winner for Gordon Elliott yet to really fire in four starts for current yard this season. Cheekpieces back on now but opposable on recent form..

Form: 968044

School Lane^b1²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 109

9/2

Mixed record in point-to-point and 0-7 over regulation fences. Finished second in two of previous three starts (behind Amaulino latest over 2m5½f at Leopardstown). Blinkers are tried now, not crossed off the list from bottom weight.

Form: 634242

Non-Runners

Space Cadet⁴²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 9

T: G Elliott J: Keith Donoghue

Forecasts

Out Sam (3/1), School Lane (9/2), Danse Away (9/2), Teacher's Pet (7/1), Tongie (7/1), Amaulino (8/1), Undressed (10/1), Logical Song (12/1), Space Cadet (14/1), King's Song (20/1)

Out Sam, winner of the Cork National and fourth in the Thyestes is the form pick for Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell and should have a big say but it might be worth siding with LOGICAL SONG, winner of that same Mallow event in late 2017 and off since. He won that day very easily and remains unexposed over this sort of stamina test. A mark of 133 may underestimate him if Mags Mullins has him spot on now. Danse Away is taking to chasing nicely and could play a hand if handling this trip, though a query is attached to Leopardstown winner Amaulino now upped in journey, with runner-up School Lane perhaps more suited to this test.