Boyne Cup (Handicap Chase)

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 3m 57.8s

Dell Oro^v1²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 136| D

5/4

Shaped well on his first two starts over fences (bumper/hurdles winner) before appreciating the drop in grade to open his chasing account. Struggled twice in better company since (unsuited by going left-handed last time); visor on for first-time.

Form: 241P3P

Railroad Junkie^t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 119| D

4/1

Already shown better form over fences (dual winner in lower grade); showed that he could handle this level last time out despite only finishing third of four. Still 10lb above his last winning mark; needs to find a little more to get involved.

Form: U34123

Valseur Du Granval^p,t¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 117| CD

6/5

His fourth victory over C&D came last April off a 5lb higher mark but his displays since have been rather modest. First-time cheekpieces (retained) and a return here sparked a semi-revival last time; still faces stiff task, often finds little.

Form: 367632

Non-Runners

Timoteo¹⁶

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: A King J: Wayne Hutchinson

Forecasts

Timoteo (5/6), Valseur Du Granval (6/5), Dell Oro (5/4), Railroad Junkie (4/1)

Hard not to be impressed with the way that TIMOTEO has dealt with his rivals on his two chasing starts so far and despite the handicapper taking a dim view of his latest victory raising him 10lb Alan King’s charge may not have finished improving yet having looked a natural over fences. A return to Ludlow may well spark a further recovery for Valseur Du Granval but he’s often a weak finisher and another placing looks in the offing. Dell Oro should appreciate going right-handed once more but has plenty to find and Railroad Junkie is taken to fill the minor place if he avoids his niggling errors.