16:35 Limerick

Sunday 13 October 2019

All13:4514:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National Handicap Chase (Grade A)

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 6m 29.30s

Snugsborough Benny⁷⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: K J Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: L P Cusack| OR: 147| BF| C| D

8/1

Generally consistent chaser/hurdler who usually be relied upon to get close to the money; best recent effort came last time out at Galway at the end of July. Difficult to dismiss and goes well in fields of this size; maybe too high in the weights?

Form: 9U14-93

Drumcliff^t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: B J Geraghty| T: A A Howard| OR: 137

25/1

Two below par runs this season at Kilbeggan and Listowel but is edging down the handicap and won from a 2lb higher mark last season; seems to cope with most surfaces and has good run/win ratio; certainly one to consider.

Form: 4P/1F-4P

Internal Transfer³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: R M Power| T: E McNamara| OR: 136| C| D

4/1

Decent effort and let down by his jumping last time out in valuable race at Listowel on his first appearance since April; should be fitter for that outing and has some useful form on bottomless ground; definite chance on the best of his form.

Form: 32011-4

Movewiththetimes³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Mark Walsh| T: E Bolger| OR: 135| BF

7/1

Off the mark at the ninth time of asking when landing a beginners contest in August; took big step up in class and probably ran as well as could be expected at Listowel last time out finishing half way down the field; could be similar story here.

Form: UF8-F19

Spider Web¹⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: D J Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 134| CD

14/1

Won this race last year off a 8lb lower mark; has generally struggled since then (only raced three times); can't left totally out of calculations and will no doubt have his supporters.

Form: 2F1P3-P

The Big Lense^p,t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Elliott| OR: 134

14/1

Had done nothing wrong since making his handicap chase debut at Listowel, winning there before following up at Navan last time out; looks the type who could keep on improving and despite lacking the experience of others should go well.

Form: 524411

Full Cry^p,t³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 133

16/1

Has been in fair though not successful form this season with his best effort arguably coming last time out at Kilbeggan; hasn't been done many favours by the handicapper but should run his race and challenge for a place at the very least.

Form: U7-4263

Nambour^t¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 132| D

10/1

Formerly a top class hurdler who fell on reappearance after an over 1000 day break late last month at Navan; hard to assess his chances in this contest and market will be the best guide.

Form: 22214/F

Oscar Knight^b³²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽³⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 131

9/1

Has failed to sparkle in any of his recent races and is another who looks in the handicapper's grip; on the plus side his best effort did come last time out in the Kerry National in September so could be headed in the right direction again.

Form: 0-PU306

Black Scorpion^t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 130| BF| D

7/1

Finished a good third in the this contest last season and was expected to run a big race in the Kerry National last month but was ballotted out; drop in trip last time out did not play to his strengths; expect a bold show here.

Form: 13FP-35

Kilkishen^b⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Brian Hayes| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 128

33/1

Generally consistent over hurdles and fences this term; plenty of mistakes put paid to his chances last time out at Gowran Park but comes into the contest fit and not easy to rule out if jumping improves.

Form: P83424

Lilshane^b¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Phillip Enright| T: T P O'Connor| OR: 128| C| D

50/1

Veteran who rarely finishes a race these days; not beyond the realms of possibility that the better version of himself turns up here but hard to back with confidence these days.

Form: P1F-U0U

Progress Drive¹⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 127| D

7/1

Tailed off and pulled up on his only two starts of 2019; had previously shown some useful form in the UK but difficult to be confident of his chances here after such a lengthy break.

Form: 27/430P-

Gwencily Berbas³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: Danny Mullins| T: E McNamara| OR: 125

20/1

Not the most fluent of jumpers these days and has had little success in hunter chases and point-to point contests of late; current handicap mark looks lenient but a clear round is far from certain.

Form: U/2U3P-6

Timiyan^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: N P Madden| T: G Elliott| OR: 125

50/1

Never threatened in this contest last season but generally runs well in various 'Nationals' over the years - won the Midlands National at Kilbeggan last year; runs here off a fair weight and not without a chance.

Form: 070P-0B

Cabaret Queen³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Reserve 1| T: W P Mullins| OR: 124| D

8/1

Seemed to benefit from a change of scenery and ran well behind The Big Lense last time out at Listowel on first start for Willie Mullins; can improve on that and one who deserves closer inspection.

Form: 5P74-F2

Non-Runners

Na Trachtalai Abu³²

Weight: 10-9| Age: 9

T: J Motherway J: J J Burke

Static Jack⁸

Weight: 9-10| Age: 8

T: G P Cromwell J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Internal Transfer (4/1), Movewiththetimes (7/1), Progress Drive (7/1), Black Scorpion (7/1), Cabaret Queen (8/1), Snugsborough Benny (8/1), Oscar Knight (9/1), Na Trachtalai Abu (10/1), Nambour (10/1), Spider Web (14/1), The Big Lense (14/1), Full Cry (16/1), Gwencily Berbas (20/1), Drumcliff (25/1), Static Jack (25/1), Kilkishen (33/1), Timiyan (50/1), Lilshane (50/1)

The two races worth investigating more closely to find the winner of this contest are last season's renewal and September's Kerry National at Listowel. Last year's race was won by Spider Web but the tentative selection goes to BLACK SCORPION who finished third last year and comes here after a spin out last time over an inadequate trip. Na Trachtalai Abu looked the winner of this race last year and was only caught close home. A reproduction of that effort will see him go close. Cabaret Queen has only recently joined Willie Mullins but showed enough recently at Listowel to suggest she is a very capable mare.