Racecards
13:40 Down Royal (IRE)
Down Royal Handicap Chase (0-95)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- €10,000 added
- Winner: €6,160
- 2nd: €1,910
- 3rd: €910
- 4th: €410
- Form 8P-4FP5
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer N Meade
- Jockey J D Benson
mid-division, dropped towards rear 8th, pushed along and no impression after 3 out, slightly hampered next, no extra
- Form 480950
- Age 10
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer E Kent
- Jockey C D Meehan
rear of mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden and no impression after next, slightly hampered and left 6th 2 out, no impression and hampered last, under pressure and kept on run-in
- Form 2/039-83
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer W Ross
- Jockey P E Corbett
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, headway to challenge 3 out and ridden to lead briefly after 2 out, drifted left and headed before last, no impression on winner run-in
- Form 375242
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 87
towards rear, headway 3 out and 3rd next, ridden to lead before last, soon drew clear run-in and stayed on well
- Form 75PP-03
- Age 12
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer J G Carr
- Jockey I J McCarthy
led, pushed along and pressed 3 out, soon headed and no impression before next, under pressure and no extra approaching last where slightly hampered, kept on one pace
- Form 8-96U94
- Age 9
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 76
towards rear, headway into 5th halfway, pushed along when bumped by rival 2 out, no impression in 4th when fell last
- Form 0PF54F
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer P W Flynn
- Jockey R P Treacy
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, slight mistake 7th and soon lost place, pushed along and no impression in rear after 4 out, no extra and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 4U4923
- Age 7
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer P J Rothwell
- Jockey J M Moore
towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, pushed along in 4th when jumped right and fell after bumping rival 2 out
- Form P30487
- Age 11
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer Kenny Johnson
- Jockey Andrew Ring
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, headway to challenge 3 out and led briefly next, ridden and no impression in 3rd before last, no extra, kept on one pace
In depth
Verdict
Fergiethelegend was a long way behind the winner when third at Navan and had Tiger Sam further behind. Goldmineinthesky is the only course and distance winner though that was in a hunter-chase almost two years ago. Winning point-to-pointer Benarty Hill has never won in 20 starts under Rules and didn't look like winning when runner-up at Tramore last time. KILLARE CASTLE would probably have won that race as he was leading when falling at the last. He's another long-time maiden so hardly looks a safe bet but he holds third-placed Shanklys Dawn and can finally shed that maiden tag. Glacial Shadow is the least experienced of these over fences and a first-time visor may wake him up.
Formwatch
Tiger Sam (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Soon raced in 4th, 5th approaching straight, soon effort until one pace from before 2 out, 5th of 7, 36 1/4l behind Rightback Atya (10-12) at Navan 3m hcp hvy in Jan.
Star Counsel (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Rear of mid-division, 13th at 7th, slightly hampered at 9th, soon dropped to rear, under pressure and detached after 10th, weakened, 11th of 18, dist behind Simple Steps (10-7) at Thurles 3m 1f hcp hvy in Dec.
Goldmineinthesky (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Mid-division early, chased leaders from 4th, 6th halfway, ridden into 3rd 3 out, no impression on leaders before next, kept on one pace, 3rd of 14, 9 1/2l behind The Informer (11-4) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
Benarty Hill (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, slight mistake 3 out, ridden into 3rd before 2 out, under pressure in 4th 2 out, left 3rd last and soon 2nd, no impression on winner, 2nd of 9, 7 1/2l behind Cerca Trova (11-4) at Tramore 2m 5f hcp hvy in Jan.
Fergiethelegend (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, soon 3rd, lost place and no impression from before 2 out, kept on same pace without threatening, 3rd of 7, 30l behind Rightback Atya (10-12) at Navan 3m hcp hvy in Jan.
Glacial Shadow (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along after 2 out and no impression in 3rd at last, no extra run-in, 4th of 10, 13 3/4l behind Bilbo Bagins (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Killare Castle (IRE) 5-1 (10-6) Chased leader, disputed from 7th and led 11th, pressed before 3 out and soon joined, left in lead 3 out, ridden 2 out, 1-length advantage when fell last, at Tramore 2m 5f hcp hvy in Jan.
Shanklys Dawn (IRE) 9-2 (10-6) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, progress into 2nd after 3 out, ridden before 2 out, under pressure in 3rd 2 out, left 2nd and hampered last, 3rd and kept on one pace closing stages, 3rd of 9, 9 1/2l behind Cerca Trova (11-4) at Tramore 2m 5f hcp hvy in Jan.
Under The Red Sky (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Towards rear, ridden before 3 out, never a factor, 7th of 11, 35 1/4l behind Misfits (11-7) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Time And Times (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) In rear, never a factor, detached 6th, behind and pulled up before 4 out, at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.