15:20 Cork

Sunday 3 November 2019

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:30

Paddy Power Cork Grand National Handicap Chase (0-150) (Grade B)

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 7m 32.4s

Woods Well^p¹⁹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 140

18/1

Mixed messages in a number of starts last term with the gelding beaten a long way in some of his starts over the larger obstacles. That said, he has won on each of his last three seasonal reappearances.

Form: 090157-

Gun Digger^p,t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 137| BF

20/1

Sole win over fences came in a Leopardstown beginners contest in December. Well held at Graded level since and has failed to complete two of his last four starts.

Form: 214FP-3

Out Sam^t,v¹³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 136| CD

16/1

Has won three of his 23 starts over fences. Winner of this contest 12 months ago off a 4lb lower beating Rogue Angel 1¾L. Had a break since June and liable to go well again.

Form: 74P0-52

The Red Menace^b²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 136

7/1

Winner of two of his three starts over the larger obstacles since August. Latest victory came in a seven runner Galway chase over 2m6½f on soft to heavy ground last month. Holds leading claims.

Form: 651341

Forever Gold^p,t¹⁹⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: E Cawley| OR: 135

50/1

Gallant veteran. Second of 16 in this contest three years ago but could only muster a weak effort last year finishing 13th of 20. Not won over fences since December 2016. Recent form doesn't warrant support here.

Form: U/0007P-

Pont Aven³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134| BF

5/1

Useful 123-rated hurdler who won on chase debut at Wexford over 3m1f in May. Beaten on a couple of occasions since in small field contests over fences. Merits plenty of respect from leading yard.

Form: 21P-132

Oscar Knight^b²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Mark Walsh| T: T Mullins| OR: 131

8/1

Winner of two of his 22 starts over fences. The Oscar gelding has been struggling in a number of starts since August and needs a few to falter in this contest.

Form: PU3063

Icantsay^b³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 130| C

40/1

Mixed messages from the French bred gelding who has hit the frame on a couple of occasions in ultimately a very inconsistent run this year. Goes well at this track but others more reliable.

Form: 052775

Cloudy Morning^v⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: D Queally| OR: 129

8/1

Resurgent over hurdles and fences since returning to the track after five months in the point-to-point field. Winner over 3m7f at Punchestown in May, the Cloudings gelding was well beaten over hurdles recently at Galway over 2m. One to note.

Form: 211-125

Wonderoftheworld^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Phillip Enright| T: K H Clarke| OR: 129

12/1

Off the mark for connections over fences when landing a Gowran Park handicap chase over 3m1f on yielding ground last month off a 7lb lower mark. The manner of the win puts the beneficial gelding in contention.

Form: 33-4331

Progress Drive²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 127

11/1

Beaten over 60L in Newcastle's Eider Chase in February on his penultimate start for trainer Nicky Richards. One pace and never a factor on stable debut at Limerick last month over 3m beaten 46L. More needed.

Form: 7/430P-7

The Gatechecker^b²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽³⁾| T: M Hourigan| OR: 124

18/1

Ran well in defeat in this contest 12 months ago finishing third of the 20 runners and may have got closer but for a number of mistakes. Out of form since February but one to note racing 5lb lower than in last years contest.

Form: 5-9870P

Young Paddymc¹⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Danny Mullins| T: T Gibney| OR: 122| BF

6/1

Winner on just his second start over fences when landing a Punchestown beginners contest in January on good ground over 2m6½f. Still in contention when hampered before falling two out in the Grade B Pat Taaffe handicap chase when last seen in May.

Form: 10/212-F

Aherlow²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 116| C

8/1

Yet to win in six starts over the larger obstacles. Flattered by the finishing positions in a couple of starts since August and looks up against it here.

Form: 0365-33

Russian Bill⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-13| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 115

6/1

Off the mark at the seventh time of asking over the larger obstacles when landing a Roscommon 2m5f handicap on heavy ground in September. Beaten over hurdles a week ago in a run that may have him spot on for this.

Form: 6054-16

Glorious Galway²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: M A Enright| T: D McNamara| OR: 109

16/1

Improving sort. Finished second of 12 beaten 17L in a Tipperary 2m4f handicap chase early last month on yielding ground. Could be a lively outsider.

Form: R/2183-2

Forecasts

Pont Aven (5/1), Russian Bill (6/1), Young Paddymc (6/1), The Red Menace (7/1), Aherlow (8/1), Cloudy Morning (8/1), Oscar Knight (8/1), Progress Drive (11/1), Wonderoftheworld (12/1), Glorious Galway (16/1), Out Sam (16/1), The Gatechecker (18/1), Woods Well (18/1), Gun Digger (20/1), Icantsay (40/1), Forever Gold (50/1)

Winner of this contest 12 months ago OUT SAM can be successful once again as the 10-year-old bids for back-to-back Cork Nationals. The gelding, carrying 4lb more than last year, has conditions in his favour and can out-point his nearest rivals in the shape of Wonderoftheworld, winner at Gowran Park last month and Cloudy Morning who could be spot on for this contest following a run over 2m½f at Galway last month. Russian Bill for trainer Noel Meade should not be underestimated, while the J P McManus pair Oscar Knight and The Gatechecker who ran well in defeat in this contest finishing third of the 20 runners off a 5lb higher mark, are not dismissed.