16:23 Downpatrick

Sunday 7 April 2024

All14:0314:3815:1315:4816:2316:5817:30

Randox Ulster National Handicap Chase

5YO plus | 3m 4f 120y | 18 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 128| BF

2 wins from 6 runs this season. 3/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, very good second of 10 in handicap chase at Navan (23.4f, heavy) 15 days ago. Up in trip. Needs considering.

Form: 122142

Cavalry Master^b,t⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 126

Six wins from 23 NH runs. 12/1, pulled up in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (24.6f, heavy) 6 days ago, pulled up after 5 out.

Form: 09P2FP

Fakiera^b,t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Ricky Doyle| T: E Griffin| OR: 124

Eighteen runs since last win in 2020. Very good third of 12 in handicap chase at Naas (24.8f, heavy, 100/1) 28 days ago, suited by way race developed.

Form: PP-64P3

Brampton Belle^p⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 123

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, second of 4 in novice chase (4/1) at Fairyhouse (25.4f, heavy) 43 days ago.

Form: 430-382

Dorking Cock^t⁹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr S Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 123

1 win from 3 runs this season. Latest win in hurdle at Navan in November. 3/1, fourth of 6 in handicap chase at Ayr (24.1f, heavy) 96 days ago.

Form: 2P0-1U4

The Flier Begley^h⁸⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 123

3/1, merely underlined inconsistency when pulled up in handicap chase at Punchestown (22.7f, soft) 84 days ago, weakening when pulled up before 3 out. Up in trip. Hood back on.

Form: 593P2P

Dragon Rock^b1¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: J S McGarvey| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 120

Latest win in chase at Fairyhouse in November. Third of 5 in handicap chase at Bangor (24.1f, heavy, 16/1) 15 days ago. Blinkers on 1st time.

Form: 2U6143

Outside The Door³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 118

Good second of 11 in handicap chase (18/1) at Leopardstown (28.3f, soft) 35 days ago. Respected.

Form: 148562

Young Dev^p²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: D King| T: D Hogan| OR: 118

Latest win in chase at Navan in February. Eleventh of 12 in handicap chase at Uttoxeter (34f, heavy, 15/2) 22 days ago.

Form: 341U40

Regina Dracones¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: T Gibney| OR: 117

Fourteen runs since last win in 2022. Pulled up in handicap hurdle (11/1) at Cork (24.3f, heavy) 17 days ago, pulled up early in straight. Switches from hurdles to chase.

Form: 33869P

Galon De Vauzelle^p⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 116

Latest win in chase at Leopardstown in December. Below form sixth of 10 in handicap chase at Naas (20f, heavy, 18/1) 42 days ago. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 3PP156

Routine Excellence^p,t⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Caragh Monaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 116

20/1, creditable third of 8 in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (21.6f, heavy) 8 days ago. Significantly up in trip.

Form: P6P4P3

Fameaftertheglory^p,t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Conor Stone-Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 115

Unreliable individual. 10/1, creditable third of 10 in cross country chase at Punchestown (24.6f, soft) but disappointed back over hurdles next time. Tongue strap back on, cheekpieces back on. Tends to make mistakes over fences but potentially well treated back in a conventional handicap.

Form: 617333

The Abbey^p³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 115

Step back in right direction after 4 months off when fourth of 10 in handicap chase at Leopardstown (21.5f, soft, 22/1) 35 days ago. Return to further will suit and not taken lightly.

Form: 139854

The Gradual Slope¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: M M McDonagh⁽³⁾| T: S O O'Brien| OR: 114

Twelve runs since last win in 2023. 20/1, creditable third of 10 in handicap chase at Navan (23.4f, heavy) 15 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: PP4323

Sweet Will^p,h⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Reserve 1| T: E Mullins| OR: 114

20/1 and hood on for 1st time in this code tongue strap on for 1st time in this code, eleventh of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (16f) 53 days ago. Switches from Flat to chase. Cheekpieces back on. RESERVE.

Form: P-PP240

Old Soul^p,t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Reserve 2| T: Liz Doyle| OR: 113

In the process of running well when crashing out late on handicap chase at Leopardstown (28.3f, soft, 10/1) 35 days ago. RESERVE.

Form: 4255UF

Atacanter^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Reserve 3| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 109

Creditable second of 8 in handicap chase (16/1) at Limerick (24.6f, heavy) 14 days ago, clear of rest. RESERVE.

Form: 065352

Forecasts

Ask Anything (3/1), Outside The Door (9/2), Young Dev (8/1), Atacanter (8/1), Routine Excellence (8/1), The Gradual Slope (10/1), Fameaftertheglory (10/1), Old Soul (12/1), Fakiera (12/1), Brampton Belle (12/1), The Flier Begley (12/1), Dorking Cock (12/1), The Abbey (14/1), Regina Dracones (14/1), Sweet Will (14/1), Galon De Vauzelle (16/1), Cavalry Master (20/1), Dragon Rock (20/1)

FAMEAFTERTHEGLORY is a temperamental sort who tends to make mistakes over fences but he's potentially well treated back in a conventional handicap so could be worth chancing. His progressive stablemate Ask Anything is an obvious threat, while The Abbey took a step back in the right direction back from a break at Leopardstown and has a good record at this time of year.