Michael O'Sullivan & Lorna Brooke Ireland V Britain (Q.R.) Challenge Handicap Chase

5YO plus | 3m 55y | 6 Runners | Turf

Age: 9| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr J King⁽³⁾| T: K Thornton| OR: 117| CD

Course winner. 22/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, fifth of 13 in handicap chase at this course (24.6f, soft). Off 6 months and now tried in a tongue strap.

Form: 1P/0765-

Clonmeen^p,t¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr C J Shine⁽⁷⁾| T: William P Murphy| OR: 110| D

Eleven runs since last win in 2023. 10/1, below form eighth of 13 in handicap chase at Down Royal (24f, good to soft) 10 days ago. Cheekpieces back on and he's opposable.

Form: 7866-48

Baldur's Gate¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Huw Edwards⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss D O'Shea| OR: 106

Eleventh of 15 in handicap chase at Galway (22.5f, soft, 20/1) 16 days ago. Needs to bounce back, but place money will be a real possibility if he puts his best foot forward.

Form: 25/435-0

Decimation^t³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr Alan O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 96

One win from 22 NH runs. Eighteen runs since last win in 2021. 8/1, tenth of 12 in handicap chase at Killarney (23.4f, good to soft) 37 days ago. Looks vulnerable for win purposes.

Form: 26P-360

Duffys Getaway^p,t²⁷⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Miss Heidi Palin⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 92| D

One win from 24 NH runs. Fair winner at 24f over hurdles. Tenth of 12 in handicap chase at this course (21.2f, good to soft, 12/1). Off 9 months and will be a threat off this reduced mark if he resumes in good order.

Form: 843/0P0-

Kilashee¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Miss M O'Sullivan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 90

Unreliable sort. Last of 12 in handicap hurdle at Thurles (20f, good to soft, 8/1) 12 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase and this step up in trip could be a good move (won over 22.3f at Galway on penultimate start). Could be the answer.

Form: 5PU210

Forecasts

Where's Frankie (11/4), Decimation (7/2), Baldur's Gate (4/1), Duffys Getaway (5/1), Kilashee (6/1), Clonmeen (7/1)

KILASHEE isn't necessarily one to set your watch by, but she was a creditable second on her latest start in this sphere at Roscommon in September before winning well from the front over hurdles at Galway. If able to shrug off a low-key recent display at Thurles she could take some pegging back returned to fences in a race in which she is likely to benefit from a soft lead. Duffys Getaway is second choice ahead of