19:20 Downpatrick

Friday 20 May 2022

All17:0517:3518:1018:4519:2019:5520:25

First Past The Post Handicap Chase (0-109)

Off time: 19:20 | Winning time: 6m 19.00s

Manitopark^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Kieran Callaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 109

17/2

Fairly useful winner at 19f over hurdles. 12/1, in process of running below form when falling in handicap chase at Punchestown (21.2f, good to soft) 22 days ago. In good hands but hasn't looked all that convincing in this sphere so far.

Form: 17P22F-

Grangeclare Native^b,t¹⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: B Browne| T: O McKiernan| OR: 106| C| D

16/1

Fairly useful hurdles winner. Yet to make an impact over fences, 200/1, seventh of 15 in novice chase at Naas (19f, soft) in December. However, does now get a crack at handicaps and one to monitor in the betting for clues.

Form: 001P07-

Kilashee³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Shane Fitzgerald⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 101

14/1

Fair hurdler who was in process of running poorly when falling in Clonmel maiden chase (20.3f) last month. Others preferred now handicapping in this sphere.

Form: 28P95F-

Nuttorridge^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Phillip Enright| T: M M McNiff| OR: 100| CD

4/1

Career best when winning 12-runner handicap chase (10/1) at this C&D (soft) 14 days ago by 3½ lengths from School Lane, forging clear. Should go well again.

Form: 4U040-1

School Lane¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Reilly⁽⁷⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 100| D

7/2

Latest win in chase at Fairyhouse in January. Creditable 3½ lengths second of 12 to Nuttorridge in handicap chase (11/1) at this C&D (soft) 14 days ago. Much better off at the weights with that rival now.and possibilities.

Form: 14646-2

Basil's Boy⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: R Deegan| T: L P Cusack| OR: 99| C

22/1

Fairly useful winner at 22f over hurdles. 66/1, pulled up in novice chase at Kilbeggan (19.4f, good to soft) 7 days ago, struggling from halfway. Up in trip. Makes handicap chase debut. More needed.

Form: 1097/5-P

Follow The Crowd^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Mark Walsh| T: A A Howard| OR: 97

11/5

Promising sort. 7/1, very good second of 13 in handicap chase at this course (19.2f, soft) 14 days ago. Up in trip. Has good chance on form.

Form: 8/8799-2

King's Song^b,t²²

Age: 12| Weight: 10-11| J: Mark McDonagh⁽⁷⁾| T: D Broad| OR: 92| D

16/1

Sixteen runs since last win in 2019. 100/1, ninth of 14 in minor event chase at Punchestown (34f, good) 22 days ago. Significantly back down in trip.

Form: 253509-

Think Positive^b⁸⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 91

20/1

One win from 25 NH runs. Blinkered for 1st time, ninth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (20.4f, heavy, 20/1) 86 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase now but he's hard to warm to on balance.

Form: 070009-

Bitview Colin³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: N T Prendergast⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 83

12/1

Seventh of 14 in handicap chase at Clonmel (22.8f, good to soft, 40/1) 36 days ago.

Form: 890P87-

Non-Runners

Cluan Dara²²⁹

Weight: 10-9| Age: 10

T: J P Ryan J: Danny Mullins

Forecasts

Follow The Crowd (11/5), School Lane (7/2), Nuttorridge (4/1), Manitopark (17/2), Bitview Colin (12/1), Kilashee (14/1), Grangeclare Native (16/1), King's Song (16/1), Cluan Dara (16/1), Think Positive (20/1), Basil's Boy (22/1)

FOLLOW THE CROWD is less exposed than most he meets here and arrives having run his best race yet when runner-up over shorter here 2 weeks ago. Unexposed at this sort of trip, he gets the narrow vote to build on that and come out on top. School Lane and Nuttorridge, who finished 2-1 respectively over C&D latest, can also figure, the former in receipt of a handy weight pull on this occasion.