Watch Irish Racing On Racing TV Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 5m 28.7s

Pookie Pekan²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 116| BF| CD

7/4

Unseated rider halfway at Kelso on Saturday when sent off favourite for fair event and turns out again quickly in search of compensation. Won over C&D in March but races off 8lb higher here prior to good conditional's 3lb claim.

Form: 5741-2U

Henry's Joy^b²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 115| D

6/1

Stayed on gamley to land Musselburgh novice handicap chase by short-head in January off just 1lb lower. Didn't shine on reappearance though where jumped stickily at Stratford and was behind when pulled up before last.

Form: 23133-P

Le Frank^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 113| C

11/4

Stable won this race last year. Stayed on well to win here last time over two miles but 8lb rise looks harsh. Appeared doubtful stayer on two previous attempts at this trip which is a concern ,but is clearly in good heart at present.

Form: F5U-431

Never Up²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 112| CD

4/1

Yard has won this race three times in the last eight years. Last two wins have come over C&D on heavy ground so conditions not an issue and ran well for a long way first time back when fourth to Le Frank (2m) last time.

Form: 4/516-44

Knocknamona¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 106| CD

20/1

Rattled off a four-timer this time two years ago and also won over C&D in February off 3lb lower than today. Looked out of sorts though when tailed off here last time and will do well to bounce back.

Form: 15F6-77

My Renaissance^t²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 101

33/1

Five wins at around 2m-2m1f but has failed to get home on five previous attempts beyond that trip. Never in contention here over 2m last time and others make more appeal at this distance.

Form: 471U37

Along Came Theo^p²⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: J Kington| T: A Crook| OR: 95

28/1

17-race maiden but placed nine times rather tells its own story. Not disgraced when distant second at Catterick in February on chase bow but was tailed off here when pulled up time after and is hard to enthuse over.

Form: P/2832P-

Forecasts

Pookie Pekan (7/4), Le Frank (11/4), Never Up (4/1), Henry's Joy (6/1), Knocknamona (20/1), Along Came Theo (28/1), My Renaissance (33/1)

With the yard having made something of a habit of winning this race this decade, NEVER UP, who has won twice before over C&D and shaped as though the run last time would put him spot on for this, is expected to open his account for this term. Top weight Pookie Pekan unseated at halfway at Kelso on Saturday when fancied so is a danger if none the worse for those exertions, while Le Frank won here last time over two miles but might be vulnerable off his new mark at this trip on this occasion.