20:15 Kilbeggan

Friday 19 July 2019

All17:3518:0518:4019:1019:4520:1520:50

AXA Smart Farm Insurance Midlands National Handicap Chase

Off time: 20:16 | Winning time: 6m 22.30s

Mill Quest^t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 136| C

12/1

Gave the ultra-consistent and classy Peregrine Run a fright at Wexford (2m4f; good) last time out. Quite a consistent mare. Should make a bold bid off top-weight as she steps back up in trip off a career-high mark.

Form: 1-51152

Full Cry^p,t³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 134| CD

5/1

Likely to be well-supported for this race after finishing runner-up to Cecil Corbett at Roscommon (3m; good) last time. 2lb higher now, but has been threatening to win a race of this type over the last few months.

Form: 14U7-42

Barra^t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: G Elliott| OR: 133| BF| C

10/1

Always seems to fail to live up to expectations, but she is a talented mare nonetheless. Only managed to finish sixth when sent off favourite at this track most recently. Won a beginners chase in fine style here last year. Likely player.

Form: 5/13-P26

Swingbridge^b,t⁵²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 133| CD

16/1

Largely in good form prior to disappointing when ninth in Mayo National at Ballinrobe (2m7f; good). That run came after he hacked up in the Killarney National and he is still 9lb higher for that win. Others look better treated.

Form: 902-319

Ned Stark^t¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 130| D

6/1

Finally back to winning ways at Perth (3m; good) recently for the first time in four years. Displayed strong staying qualities then and is only 2lb higher now, so should remain competitive on what is remarkably just his fourth start for this stable.

Form: P520/31

Oscar Knight⁷⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: N P Madden| T: T Mullins| OR: 130

20/1

Struggling for form at present. Pulled-up in a good handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival, which was subsequently followed by him unseating his jockey a few days later. Been given a 76-day break since then, but is high enough in the weights.

Form: P670-PU

Cecil Corbett¹³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Elliott| OR: 129| C| D

20/1

Won the Connacht National in comfortable fashion on seasonal return last month, and his disappointing run at Bellewstown (3m; good) over hurdles should probably be taken with a pinch of salt. Has form at this track and is a major player.

Form: 145P-17

Icantsay⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 129| D

20/1

Failed to build upon promising effort when third in the Killarney National, as he could only finish 10th in the Mayo National at Ballinrobe (2m7f; good) last time. Bounce back from poor runs in the past, and definite chance if he could do so here.

Form: 9/10P-30

Tesseract³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 128

9/2

Posted two fine fifth-placed efforts since returning to the track after almost a year off. Major place claims off what is an unchanged mark. Hasn't had that much racing for an eight-year-old, so there could still be more to come.

Form: 15P/6-55

Na Trachtalai Abu^p,t⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: J Motherway| OR: 127| CD

12/1

Beaten a fair way into fourth in the Killarney National (won by Swingbridge) most recently. That was a step on seasonal reappearance effort. Only 1lb higher now and is better treated than that rival, so could go close with more progress expected.

Form: 33208-4

Rathnure Rebel⁸⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 127| BF

9/2

Still very lightly raced after just the nine career starts. Totally unexposed over fences and was runner-up to subsequent Irish National hero Burrows Saint two starts ago. Massive player on handicap debut with handy 7lb offset by claiming jockey.

Form: 145/P22-

Timiyan^t²³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: M A Enright| T: G Elliott| OR: 126| CD

8/1

Hasn't been able to live with the 10lb rise he incurred after controversially being disqualified as the winner of this race last year. Still 4lb above the mark he won off that day and was pulled-up when last seen in November. Risky proposition.

Form: 6D070P-

Non-Runners

Measureofmydreams⁷⁶

Weight: 11-5| Age: 11

T: G Elliott J: Keith Donoghue

Monatomic³²

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: K Brogan

Mindsmadeup⁶

Weight: 10-3| Age: 8

T: M J Smith J: Reserve 1

Riviera Sun³⁸

Weight: 10-2| Age: 10

T: H De Bromhead J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Tesseract (9/2), Rathnure Rebel (9/2), Full Cry (5/1), Ned Stark (6/1), Timiyan (8/1), Barra (10/1), Na Trachtalai Abu (12/1), Mill Quest (12/1), Mindsmadeup (12/1), Measureofmydreams (14/1), Monatomic (14/1), Swingbridge (16/1), Oscar Knight (20/1), Icantsay (20/1), Cecil Corbett (20/1), Riviera Sun (25/1)

This looks set to be a highly entertaining renewal of the Midlands National. The latest run of Cecil Corbett, which came over hurdles, should probably be ignored, as it is more than likely that connections were probably wanting to keep his chase mark down ahead of this contest.Ned Stark took a sizeable step forward from his return from a long layoff when successful at Perth. There is likely to be more to come from him. However, the one who makes greatest appeal is RATHNURE REBEL. The selection has only had the three starts over fences and has fared encouragingly behind some smart sorts. He can make a successful transition to the handicap sphere.