15:40 Downpatrick

Sunday 22 March 2020

All13:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:40

Tote Supporting Downpatrick Racecourse Handicap Chase (0-102)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 9.60s

Blue Empyrean^p²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: D F O'Regan| T: R K Watson| OR: 102| C

20/1

Hasn't won for over two years and form has a very uneven look to it but is down in both the weights and grade and Denis O'Regan is back in the saddle. Each-way claims.

Form: 00-307P

Canadian Steel^t²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr O McGill⁽⁷⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 102| C

22/1

Won twice over fences and twice over hurdles last year but seems best on a sound surface and beaten a long way after five-month break in heavy last time. Ground again a worry.

Form: 112480

Da Baba Elephant^t¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny Mullins| T: R McNally| OR: 102

20/1

Won five chases on goodish ground between June 2017 and September 2018 but lightly raced and only one performance of note since. Step back up in trip will help but ground is a concern.

Form: 1-P0P7P

Solar Heat⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-13| J: P E Corbett| T: Mrs D A Love| OR: 101

33/1

Broke losing run when scoring over hurdles (2m) in November and this is much easier than the Listed/Grade 2 contests she's tackled on her last two starts. Return to handicap will suit and seems to stay. Each-way prospect.

Form: 319P54

Golden Sunset²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: N Madden| OR: 100

11/2

Best effort when opening account and beating subsequent winner over 2m4f (soft) at Down Royal in January. Disappointing last time and hasn't always been consistent but claims if back to best.

Form: 92UP17

Caniwillyegiveme⁸⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: J Fahey| OR: 98

100/1

Debut point-to-point winner in 2015 but hasn't added to tally since in 19 starts under rules. Badly out of sorts at the end of last year and not seen since so enough to prove.

Form: 82/0P-PP

Whydah^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 98

9/2

Very moderate maiden hurdler who has only hinted at ability over fences. In good hands and switch to handicap will suit but he'll have to show something more solid before he's worth a bet.

Form: 80907F

Call Of The Loon²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: D J Ryan| OR: 97

10/1

Point and 3m soft-ground hurdle winner but soundly beaten all three starts since last win. Steps into handicap for first time over fences but percentage call is to oppose.

Form: 781-P99

Stoughan Cross^t⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: O R Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: T Gibney| OR: 97

10/1

Record is one of inconsistency but at least knows how to win, as he again showed at Punchestown (hurdles) in February. Just as good over fences but ran poorly last time and hard to know what to expect.

Form: 70561P

Capture The Drama⁴⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr E Mahon⁽⁷⁾| T: Aengus King| OR: 95

10/1

Multiple winner down the years over fences but hasn't added to tally since Clonmel victory in late 2018 and form in that period is very patchy. However on a good mark and each-way claims back up in trip.

Form: 79P4P4

The Trigger³³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: R McNally| OR: 95

4/1

Clear signs of a return to form at Musselburgh last time (winner since won, runner-up since run well) and now races from 13lb lower mark. Drop in trip could suit and interesting with rider removing 7lb.

Form: 900983

Yeats Mardy¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 92

12/1

Exposed maiden. Hasn't been with this trainer long and she's shown ability over fences. Well beaten over hurdles last time but would want to see market support before getting involved back over fences.

Form: 6765P0

Drummullagh Rocky^t⁵⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr N McParlan⁽⁵⁾| T: S McParlan| OR: 91

14/1

Hurdle and chase winner but isn't renowned for consistency and beaten a long way on each of last two chase starts. Will have to do better if he's to return to winning ways.

Form: 695-1P9

Mash Potato⁵⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: J G Cosgrave| OR: 87

12/1

Broke losing run and notched first win over fences at Cartmel last August (2m5f) but he's not very consistent and he's yet to come anywhere near that level since. Easy enough to take on.

Form: 417058

Lisnagreggan⁵⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Mr N Gault⁽⁷⁾| T: S Wilson| OR: 82

25/1

Triple Point winner but yet to trouble the judge in seven outings over regulation fences and, although last run threw up a couple of winners, it'll be a bit of a surprise if he gets off the mark this time.

Form: 1263-P7

Non-Runners

Shanklys Dawn⁵⁴

Weight: 9-12| Age: 9

T: P J Rothwell J: Reserve 1

Kilderry Prince⁵⁴

Weight: 9-12| Age: 12

T: A J McNamara J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

The Trigger (4/1), Whydah (9/2), Golden Sunset (11/2), Call Of The Loon (10/1), Stoughan Cross (10/1), Capture The Drama (10/1), Mash Potato (12/1), Yeats Mardy (12/1), Drummullagh Rocky (14/1), Da Baba Elephant (20/1), Blue Empyrean (20/1), Kilderry Prince (20/1), Canadian Steel (22/1), Lisnagreggan (25/1), Solar Heat (33/1), Shanklys Dawn (33/1), Caniwillyegiveme (100/1)

Not too many of these are reliable betting propositions but it’s worth going with THE TRIGGER, who shaped as though a return to winning ways was imminent when a solid third from a 13lb higher mark in a race that worked out well at Musselburgh last time. The drop in trip should suit and he’s taken to beat Golden Sunset and Capture The Drama.