17:15 Downpatrick

Sunday 9 August 2020

All14:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:1517:45

Toals Dial-A-Bet Check Out Our Exclusive D-A-B Specials Handicap Chase (0-109)

Off time: 17:15 | Winning time: 5m 57.3s

The Trigger¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mark Walsh| T: R McNally| OR: 105| D

10/11

Returned from a short break to win over fences at Tipperary (2m7½f, yielding; 11-2) early last month and since recorded three wins over hurdles; latest at Galway Festival off 102. Thriving veteran should be in the mix again.

Form: 23-1111

Cushinstown Finest^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Jordan Gainford⁽⁷⁾| T: C Bowe| OR: 103| C| D

11/2

Low-mileage mare for her age; hurdles winner here in September last year (2m6½f, good) and returns to this venue after pleasing third over fences at Tramore (2m5f, yielding) last month. Longer trip to suit.

Form: 1454-53

Pegase Amour²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Keith Donoghue| T: L Lennon| OR: 102| D

28/1

Hurdles run here last month was first start since January and looked in need of it; a repeat of December's Down Royal second (2m4f, soft to heavy; 20-1) would give him claims but far from certain to repeat it now.

Form: 34225-0

Monsieur Bagot^t³²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 91| BF

15/2

Below-par effort when last seen can be excused since he was found to have broken blood vessels. Not seen for 324 days since, but previous Kilbeggan (3m1f; good to yielding) would bring him into this. Place claims if back to form.

Form: P/39820-

Mlily^p¹³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: P Rooney| OR: 88

20/1

23-race maiden, placed five times over hurdles; jumped well enough on debut at Clonmel in March over inadequate trip and may do better soon over fences with that debut effort having some merit despite 66-1 SP.

Form: 333977-

Maureen's Star⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: C P McNamara⁽⁵⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 75| D

3/1

A winner at Kilbeggan (2m4f, good) in June on comeback; she ran well enough here over hurdles next start and then beaten a neck chasing over 2m6f back at Kilbeggan since. Only gone up 1lb for that run eight days ago.

Form: 4P6-163

Shanklys Dawn^p,t⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-12| J: A W Short| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 68| C| D

50/1

Has won four times over fences but shown very little since last victory in May last year; well beaten in two recent runs at Kilbeggan (combined tally of 86L) and opposed again.

Form: 9750-00

Non-Runners

Da Baba Elephant⁸

Weight: 11-11| Age: 11

T: R McNally J: Danny Mullins

Forecasts

The Trigger (10/11), Maureen's Star (3/1), Cushinstown Finest (11/2), Da Baba Elephant (6/1), Monsieur Bagot (15/2), Mlily (20/1), Pegase Amour (28/1), Shanklys Dawn (50/1)

Trainer Ronan McNally has a strong hand here. The Trigger is bidding for a five-timer having supplemented last month's Tipperary chase success with three more wins over hurdles since, the latest of those in good style at the Galway Festival. He's only 3lb higher now. Stablemate Da Baba Elephant lurks on a workable mark and wasn't beaten far at Kilbeggan recently; any market support for him would need heeding. MAUREEN'S STAR was closing all the way to the line over shorter at Kilbeggan eight days ago and has claims from a low weight given her excellent for lately. Cushinstown Finest is low-mileage for her age and the course hurdles winner comes here after a good third at Tramore.