16:30 Down Royal

Monday 6 May 2024

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

C&C White Maiden Hunters Chase

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 5m 55.6s

Ballinrea¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr M J McGrath⁽⁷⁾| T: R J McGrath

33/1

Twice-raced maiden. Ninth of 10 in hunter chase at Tramore (21.8f, good, 11/2) 14 days ago.

Form: 1/33U9-

Ballymoney^t1¹⁹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr H C Swan⁽³⁾| T: M C Grassick

50/1

Some promise in a bumper a long time ago but he's a maiden pointer who was below form last time. Others preferred.

Form: PP/6724-

Ballyphilip¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr N McParlan| T: Caroline Mccaldin

9/2

Showed little in a novice hurdle at Perth 9 months ago but has won all 4 points in 2024 (latest Apr 20) and makes most appeal as he bids to extend that streak on hunter debut.

Form: 301111-

Bold Fury^h1,t1⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr T C Kileff⁽⁷⁾| T: S R B Crawford

14/1

€20,000 3-y-o, Califet gelding. Dam, maiden on Flat abroad, half-sister to smart hurdler/useful chaser (2m winner) Zamdy Man. Wears tongue strap. Successful on last of 6 starts in points (Mar 9). Not ruled out.

Form: 74F12F-

Cousin Zeleznik²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J P Sutton⁽⁷⁾| T: D A McLoughlin

150/1

Maiden pointer, pulled up last time (Apr 7). Hard to fancy.

Form: 80/PP4P-

Drumnasoo¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr S Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: S R B Crawford

12/1

Flemensfirth gelding. Dam, placed in point, half-sister to bumper winner/high-class hurdler (2m winner) Go Native and fairly useful hurdler (17f winner) Killer Kane. Maiden pointer, third last time (Apr 20).

Form: 6P/35P3-

Focus Point²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D T Hyde⁽⁷⁾| T: T E Hyde

6/4

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. Pulled up in hunter chase (125/1) at Aintree (21.1f, soft) 25 days ago. Good effort here the time before and expected to bounce back returning to calmer waters.

Form: 11P23P-

Hardy Buck¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Sexton⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Hanlon

28/1

Modest chaser. Fourth of 10 in hunter chase at Tramore (21.8f, good, 100/1) 14 days ago.

Form: 006064-

John The Spark⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D G Lavery| T: Ian Donoghue

7/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Eighth of 16 in novice chase at Punchestown (24.4f, good to soft, 9/1) 6 days ago.

Form: 1F1428-

Ohzark⁷⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B Finn⁽⁷⁾| T: Colm Murphy

12/1

£40,000 3-y-o, Schiaparelli gelding. Dam unraced half-sister to useful chase winner (stayed 3½m) Up The Beat. Winning pointer, pulled up last time (Feb 18).

Form: 61/P-

Victor Tango⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr O McGill⁽⁷⁾| T: N C Kelly

11/1

Ocovango gelding. Dam (c127/h129) 2¼m-2¾m hurdle/chase winner. Winning pointer, every chance when fell last time (Apr 27).

Form: 12F-

Big Girl Betty¹⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr D McGill⁽⁷⁾| T: M M McNiff

15/2

Once-raced maiden. 16/1, second of 13 in hunter chase at Downpatrick (23.5f, good to soft) on NH debut, going with enthusiasm 11 months ago. Off mark in points at third attempt (Jan 27). One to consider.

Form: 34/21-

Forecasts

Focus Point (6/4), Ballyphilip (9/2), John The Spark (7/1), Big Girl Betty (15/2), Victor Tango (11/1), Drumnasoo (12/1), Ohzark (12/1), Bold Fury (14/1), Hardy Buck (28/1), Ballinrea (33/1), Ballymoney (50/1), Cousin Zeleznik (150/1)

BALLYPHILLIP is 4 from 4 between the flags this year and seems the obvious way to go. Focus Point should be back on his game, so he's feared along with Big Girl Betty.