Racecards
16:50 Down Royal (IRE)
BarOneRacing.com Chase
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 3m 2f 50y
- Going: Soft to Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- €20,000 added
- Winner: €12,320
- 2nd: €3,820
- 3rd: €1,820
- 4th: €820
- Form 2U3-372
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Keith Donoghue
held up, closer in 3rd 3 out where left 2nd, pushed along before 2 out, disputed 2 out, narrow lead last, ridden and kept on well run-in
- Form 30-17P2
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer R O'Sullivan
- Jockey Paul Townend
led and disputed, led 4th, 1-length advantage when fell 3 out
- Form 3P23/PP
- Age 10
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 157
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Sean Flanagan
held up, pushed along in rear before 3 out, left moderate 4th and no impression 3 out, moderate 3rd from next
- Form 21P12-8
- Age 11
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 155
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey M A Enright
led and disputed, headed 4th and chased leader, pushed along before 3 out where left in lead, joined and pushed along 2 out, ridden before last where narrowly headed, no extra run-in and kept on same pace
- Form 22U750
- Age 12
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer J J Lambe
- Jockey L P Dempsey
held up, pushed along in 4th before 3 out, soon no extra, left 3rd, dropped to 4th next, weakened
In depth
Verdict
Gordon Elliott, who has won three of the last four, has three of the five entries including last year's winner Mala Beach. He's not getting any younger and struggled to make an impression in the Galmoy Hurdle won by Presenting Percy in January but race conditions are in his favour. JURY DUTY has to concede him plenty of weight and hasn't run since a brilliant victory in the Grand National over hurdles at Far Hills in the USA in October. A close third in the Galway Plate earlier, he goes well fresh so the lack of a run shouldn't pose a problem. The once top-class Don Poli pulled up in the Galmoy Hurdle as he did in last year's Grand National. He's heading for Aintree again and it wouldn't be a shock to see him bounce back to form. Baie Des Iles showed his liking for testing conditions when landing a Grade 2 at Auteuil last summer and in that kind of form would have to be considered but Sir Ector has a lot to do.
Formwatch
Jury Duty (IRE) 13-10fav (11-2) Lugged in, drew off,, won at Far Hills 2m 5f fm in Oct beating Tornado Watch (11-2) by 3 1/4l, 9 ran.
Baie Des Iles (FR) 10-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, slow 5 out, pushed along and some headway early straight, ridden in 2nd before last, no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 7, 14l behind Pravalaguna (10-7) at Naas 2m lst (1) Good - Yielding in Feb.
Don Poli (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Disputed lead early, tracked leader in 2nd, pushed along before 5th, reminders after 4 out and soon no extra, behind and pulled up before 2 out, at Gowran Park 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Mala Beach (IRE) 28-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, no extra after 3 out, weakened in straight, 8th of 11, dist behind Presenting Percy (11-8) at Gowran Park 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Sir Ector (USA) 33-1 (11-6) Mid-division, weakened from 3 out, never a factor, 15th of 19, dist behind Thereisnodoubt (11-7) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp sft in Mar.