19:35 Downpatrick

Friday 24 May 2024

All17:0517:3518:0518:3519:0519:3520:05

Dennison Commercials Hunters Chase

Off time: 19:35 | Winning time: 7m 35.30s

Au Fleuron¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr S Cotter⁽⁷⁾| T: D M Christie

25/1

Fairly useful hurdler for Gordon Elliott. Won 3 times in points this year but disappointing on Killarney hunter debut 11 days ago.

Form: 61121-0

Battleoverdoyen^t¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J M Halford⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 137

10/1

Fairly useful chaser. Eighteen runs since last win in 2021. 10/1, unseated rider in hunter chase at Killarney (23f, good to soft) 11 days ago. Up in trip. A potentially classy sort for hunters but hard to be confident about at present.

Form: 5/1P2F-U

Billaway^p,t²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140| CD

15/8

Useful chase who won this race last year. Struggled in Champion Hunters at Cheltenham and Punchestown this spring but leading claims with his sights lowered.

Form: 2U/1256-

Gorthill⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr N McParlan| T: Caroline Mccaldin| C

11/1

Won a course hunter last May. Pulled up in hunter at Punchestown (24.7f, soft, 80/1) 3 weeks but runner-up in a point since.

Form: 6/141P-2

Perfect Pirate²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Sean P O'Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 114

18/1

Fairly useful chaser. Point win in April. First Rules start since leaving Ben Pauling when fourth of 10 in hunter chase (22/1) at Cheltenham (32.4f, heavy) 21 days ago.

Form: 73/321-4

Private Ryan²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J L Scallan⁽⁷⁾| T: S Doyle

7/1

Won 10-runner hunter chase at Punchestown (20.2f, soft, 9/4) on NH debut 21 days ago, driven clear. Significantly up in trip. A good deal more needed if he's to follow up here.

Form: 234151-

Samurai Cracker^t¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr O McGill⁽⁷⁾| T: Caroline Mccaldin| OR: 109

28/1

Fair hurdler. Eleven runs since last win in 2021. 20/1, bit below form fifth of 9 in handicap chase at this course (17.8f, good) in August. Placed in points this spring but others preferred on Rules return.

Form: 2/3543-3

Vaucelet²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: D M Christie| OR: 137

9/4

Useful chaser. Six wins from 16 NH runs. 16/1, bit below form fifth of 14 in hunter chase at Punchestown (24.7f, soft) 21 days ago. Can make presence felt in these calmer waters.

Form: 223355-

Shiroccosmagicgem^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr J C Barry⁽³⁾| T: Edward F Power

17/2

Fairly useful chaser. One win from 2 runs last season. Excellent third of 11 in hunter chase (20/1) at Killarney (23f, good to soft) 11 days ago. Up in trip. Progressing recently.

Form: 3PU51-3

Forecasts

Billaway (15/8), Vaucelet (9/4), Private Ryan (7/1), Shiroccosmagicgem (17/2), Battleoverdoyen (10/1), Gorthill (11/1), Perfect Pirate (18/1), Au Fleuron (25/1), Samurai Cracker (28/1)

BILLAWAY was narrowly behind Vaucelet at Punchestown but is taken to turn the tables on David Christie's charge and land this race for the second year running. Recent Killarney third Shiroccosmagicgem may prove best of the remainder.