15:35 Down Royal

Thursday 4 February 2021

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:35

Molson Coors Handicap Chase (0-95)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 5m 39.10s

Hilltop Supreme²³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: K J Brouder| T: D E Fitzgerald| OR: 95| D

4/1

9/1, improved to win 16-runner handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f, heavy) 23 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Big player.

Form: 6-F8461

It's Only A Number¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁵⁾| T: F J Flood| OR: 95| BF

10/3

Remains a maiden after 18 NH runs. Respectable fifth of 12 in handicap chase at Punchestown (20f, heavy, 9/4) 18 days ago. Form choice.

Form: F7P-435

West Is Best⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny Mullins| T: W J Lanigan| OR: 95

9/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2019. Creditable seventh of 12 in novice chase at Tramore (21.4f, heavy, 22/1) 56 days ago.

Form: 03P-857

Pegase Amour⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: C J Orr⁽³⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 93

9/1

Remains a maiden after 17 NH runs. 13/2, pulled up in handicap chase at this C&D (heavy) 49 days ago, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out.

Form: 69533P

Sweet As A Nut^t¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: Michael Barry| OR: 91

9/1

Eighth of 12 in handicap chase (40/1) at Punchestown (20f, heavy) 18 days ago.

Form: 5/47PP-8

Cappacon^p,t¹⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 11-9| J: B Browne⁽³⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 90| D

20/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2018. Carried out in novice chase (33/1) at Punchestown (22.4f, heavy) 18 days ago. Stable in good form.

Form: 32-6P7C

I'll Be That Lady⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr E Mahon⁽⁷⁾| T: B McMahon| OR: 89| BF

11/2

Very good second of 16 in handicap chase at Naas (20f, heavy, 11/1). Shaped better than being pulled up suggests at Navan next time.

Form: 8-P752P

Cluan Dara¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 87

66/1

Two wins from 50 NH runs. Latest win in chase at Gowran in November. 40/1, pulled up in handicap chase at Clonmel (16.4f, heavy) 16 days ago, left behind after 3 out. Back up in trip.

Form: 1P0FPP

Drummullagh Rocky^t³¹⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-6| J: E Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: S McParlan| OR: 87| CD

12/1

C&D winner. Latest win in chase here in December 2019. 14/1, creditable sixth of 15 in handicap chase at Downpatrick (19.2f, good to soft). Off 10 months.

Form: 95/1P96-

Greenway Machine¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Cian Cullinan⁽⁷⁾| T: Ms H P Markham| OR: 87

22/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. 33/1, fell in handicap chase at Punchestown (20f, heavy) 18 days ago.

Form: P6-579F

Enduring Love^p,t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: H Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 84

25/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, sixth of 9 in handicap chase (10/1) at Fairyhouse (21f, heavy) 23 days ago.

Form: 41-P906

Wee Small Hours^t¹⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: M Rice| OR: 83| D

8/1

Two wins from 43 NH runs. Twenty runs since last win in 2018. 14/1, excellent fourth of 12 in handicap chase at Punchestown (20f, heavy) 18 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: 479584

Forecasts

It's Only A Number (10/3), Hilltop Supreme (4/1), I'll Be That Lady (11/2), Wee Small Hours (8/1), Pegase Amour (9/1), West Is Best (9/1), Sweet As A Nut (9/1), Drummullagh Rocky (12/1), Cappacon (20/1), Greenway Machine (22/1), Enduring Love (25/1), Cluan Dara (66/1)

Not a strong race by any means and it may pay to side with HILLTOP SUPREME. A recent winner over hurdles, he's gone close from this sort of mark over fences previously and should go well again. I'll Be That Lady shaped better than being pulled up suggests latest and is feared along with It's Only A Number.