14:57 Tipperary

Sunday 17 July 2022

All13:5014:2214:5715:3216:0716:4117:16

Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Handicap Chase (0-102)

Off time: 14:58 | Winning time: 4m 28.0s

General Clermont¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: D E Mullins| T: D E Fitzgerald| OR: 102

7/2

Remains a maiden after 19 NH runs. 14/1, creditable third of 17 in handicap hurdle at this course (16f, good to soft) 17 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase and can make his presence felt.

Form: 698F-83

Rebellious Gale^t⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: P J Carberry| T: A J Martin| OR: 101

3/1

11/2, career best when winning 17-runner handicap hurdle at Limerick (22f, good to soft) 52 days ago, driven out. Drop back in trip is of dubious benefit now switched to the larger obstacles.

Form: 70004-1

Ricky Langford^p1,t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 97| D

11/1

25/1, below form eighth of 14 in handicap chase at Tramore (16f, good) 14 days ago, having hopeless task from position. Cheekpieces on 1st time and, having slipped to a workable mark, he's one for the shortlist.

Form: 33267-8

Mullins Cross^p1¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: P Nolan| OR: 91| D

12/1

100/1, sixth of 9 in novice chase at Wexford (16f, soft) on debut over fences 16 days ago. Cheekpieces on for 1st time for this handicap chase debut.

Form: 2000-96

A Mere Bagatelle²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Flanagan| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 90| D

5/1

Career best when winning 10-runner handicap hurdle (8/1) at Cartmel (17.2f, good to soft) 23 days ago, always holding on. Makes chase debut off a 4 lb lower mark and he needs considering.

Form: 700-231

Early Arrival^t1⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Slevin| T: L Casey| OR: 90

16/1

Seventeenth of 19 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.5f, good to soft, 33/1) 54 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase and tongue strap on for 1st time. Well beaten sole previous chase start.

Form: 60029-0

So Easy Way²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Simon Torrens| T: I Madden| OR: 84| D

16/1

Fourteen runs since last win in 2019. Seventh of 10 in handicap chase (20/1) at Kilbeggan (19f, good) 2 days ago. Best to look elsewhere.

Form: 0P7-007

Zalika^p³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: C P McNamara| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 82

7/1

18/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, good fifth of 13 in handicap chase at Wexford (25.3f, good to soft) 39 days ago. Significantly down in trip and she's not without each-way hope.

Form: 505-765

Bilbo Bagins^p⁴⁴

Age: 13| Weight: 10-7| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: R P Burns| OR: 81| D

17/2

Sixteen runs since last win in 2019. 11/1, seventh of 9 in handicap chase at Tramore (15.2f, good to soft) 44 days ago. Runner-up at Limerick on penultimate start, form which entitles him to respect here.

Form: 0/80-727

Fly De Megaudais⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Cian Quirke⁽⁷⁾| T: M J McDonagh| OR: 79

20/1

One win from 3 runs last season. 12/1, below form eighth of 16 in handicap chase at Limerick (19.7f, good) 51 days ago. Opposable.

Form: 4/1U0-78

Forecasts

Rebellious Gale (3/1), General Clermont (7/2), A Mere Bagatelle (5/1), Zalika (7/1), Bilbo Bagins (17/2), Ricky Langford (11/1), Mullins Cross (12/1), Early Arrival (16/1), So Easy Way (16/1), Fly De Megaudais (20/1)

A MERE BAGATELLE looked better than ever when scoring over hurdles at Perth last month and, 4 lb lower in the weights now switched to fences, this 5-y-o will have every chance if his jumping passes the test. Rebellious Gale was also successful in a handicap hurdle on his latest start, but this sizeable drop back in trip may not be ideal. Consequently, Ricky Langford and General Clermont rate the main dangers.