16:05 Down Royal

Thursday 4 February 2021

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

Molson Coors Handicap Chase (0-123)

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 6m 56.60s

Progress Drive^p⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 121| D

25/1

Five wins from 19 NH runs. 11/1, again ran badly when pulled up a circuit out in handicap chase at Cork (28f, heavy), taking little interest. Off 15 months.

Form: 30P/7P-6

Ned Stark⁶⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 11-13| J: E Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S Dawson| OR: 120| D

28/1

Temperamental sort who seemingly got back on track on first run since leaving Gordon Elliott when third of 5 in minor event chase at this course (26.2f, heavy, 33/1). Off 10 months.

Form: P3-5415

Prince Of Scars^p⁶⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-13| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 120| D

20/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2015. 14/1, pulled up in handicap chase at Punchestown (28.4f, heavy), left behind gradually after bad mistake 1st. Off 11 months. Trainer going well. Not taken lightly.

Form: 6/965P-9

Theatre World^p³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: C J Orr⁽³⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 120| D

6/1

Ran at least as well as when winning the time before when second of 20 in handicap chase at Leopardstown (21f, soft, 11/1) 37 days ago. Can give another good account nudged up just 1 lb.

Form: 5-44612

Kavanaghs Corner³⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Emma Twomey⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 119| BF

15/2

1 win from 3 runs this season. 11/4, creditable 9¼ lengths third of 7 to Wishmoor in handicap chase at Limerick (22.6f, heavy) 36 days ago, bad mistake 5 out. Not discounted.

Form: 316-413

Wishmoor^p³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Ricky Doyle| T: J F Levins| OR: 116

6/1

1 win from 3 runs this season. 11/4, ended long losing run when won 7-runner handicap chase at Limerick (22.6f, heavy) 36 days ago, making all but jumping ponderously. Place claims up 5 lb.

Form: 22P-P31

Envol Pierji⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Mark Walsh| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 109| BF

6/4

Fairly useful winner at 22f over hurdles. Gambled-on 3/1, 5¼ lengths third of 13 to Kavanaghs Corner in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (21.2f) 68 days ago, finishing with running left. One to note.

Form: 7467-03

Goodnightngodbless^t⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: J S McGarvey| T: J Motherway| OR: 109| D

17/2

Eleven runs since last win in 2019. Stepped up on reappearance when fifth of 12 in handicap chase (8/1) at Punchestown (20.4f, heavy) 58 days ago, none too fluent in the home straight.

Form: 2675-65

Spancil Hill¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: B Browne⁽³⁾| T: M J McDonagh| OR: 109| D

17/2

Latest win in chase at Clonmel in November. Held every chance when fell 3 out in handicap chase at Punchestown (25f, heavy, 16/1) 18 days ago.

Form: 31026F

Bitview Colin^b²³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 105

18/1

Typically wasn't seen to best effect when fifth of 9 in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (21f, heavy, 10/1) 23 days ago, not ideally placed. Must improve.

Form: 264FU5

Non-Runners

Alohamora¹⁹

Weight: 11-9| Age: 7

T: J Nash J: K J Brouder

Robin Deuz Pois⁴⁸

Weight: 10-10| Age: 9

T: G Elliott J: Jack Kennedy

Forecasts

Envol Pierji (6/4), Wishmoor (6/1), Theatre World (6/1), Kavanaghs Corner (15/2), Spancil Hill (17/2), Goodnightngodbless (17/2), Alohamora (12/1), Robin Deuz Pois (12/1), Bitview Colin (18/1), Prince Of Scars (20/1), Progress Drive (25/1), Ned Stark (28/1)

A cracking handicap featuring a host of in-form sorts. ENVOL PIERJI is less exposed than most he meets here and caught the eye from his lower chase mark when third at Fairyhouse (21f) 68 days ago, noted keeping on well and finishing with running left. The return to 3m is a plus on that evidence and he earns the vote. Alohamora, Theatre World and Kavanaghs Corner head up the dangers.