15:50 Down Royal

Friday 17 March 2023

All13:5014:3015:1015:5016:3017:1017:50

Bluegrass Stamm 30 Chase

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 7m 3.40s

Roi Mage⁴⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark McDonagh⁽⁵⁾| T: P Griffin| OR: 149| CD

11/2

Smart chaser who won weak renewal of this corresponding event last year. Fell in cross-country event at Cheltenham last time (sustained leg wound) on most recent start and faces no easy task having to concede weight all round here.

Form: 517-33F

Burrows Saint²⁹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: C P McNamara| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153

15/2

Smart chaser who was well held in 16-runner Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Group 1) at Auteuil (29.8f, soft) in May. Off since then.

Form: 4/323U-0

Farclas^p,t¹¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr H C Swan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 149| C

7/2

Smart chaser who shaped as if needing the run prior to being pulled up in handicap chase at Navan (24f, heavy) on his return in November, dropping away from home turn. Needs to leave that behind but in the mix if doing so.

Form: 25/U2F-P

Longhouse Poet^t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Slevin| T: M Brassil| OR: 154

7/4

Smart chaser who got back to winning ways in minor event hurdle at Limerick in December. Unseated rider first back over fences in Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse latest. Respected on the pick of his form.

Form: 76-P16U

Portstorm^p,t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: C A McBratney| OR: 116

9/1

Turned in his best effort of the season when sixth of 12 in handicap chase at Punchestown (28.2f) 26 days ago but has his work cut out at this level.

Form: 065U66

Wee Small Hours^t¹¹

Age: 14| Weight: 11-0| J: Dillon Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: M Rice| OR: 78| C

66/1

Poor chaser who got off the mark in this sphere in a 2½m handicap here in January, all out to hold on. Unseated at Leopardstown next time but has no business in this field.

Form: 6-7961U

Fairyhill Run⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 137

5/1

Useful chaser who was in the process of running poorly when unseating her rider 3 out in Grade 3 mares event (20/1) at Fairyhouse (21.1f, heavy) 75 days ago. Back up in trip.

Form: 333-34U

Non-Runners

Now Where Or When²⁰

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: S R B Crawford J: Darragh O'Keeffe

Pencilfulloflead²⁰

Weight: 11-0| Age: 9

T: G Elliott J: D F O'Regan

Forecasts

Longhouse Poet (7/4), Pencilfulloflead (3/1), Farclas (7/2), Fairyhill Run (5/1), Roi Mage (11/2), Burrows Saint (15/2), Portstorm (9/1), Now Where Or When (12/1), Wee Small Hours (66/1)

PENCILFULLOFLEAD was a shade disappointing in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on his most recent start, but he was an excellent third in the Thyestes at Gowran the time before and can take this if returning to that sort of form. Longhouse Poet and Farclas are considered the main threats.