19:50 Downpatrick

Friday 24 May 2019

All17:1517:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:20

Frank Fitzsimmons Memorial Hunters Chase

Off time: 19:50 | Winning time: 6m 3.5s

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Selected odds by:

My Oakclahome¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: R Deegan⁽⁵⁾| T: D M O'Brien| CD

4/1

Won a maiden hunter chase in a slow time over C&D a fortnight ago. Likes a sound surface and taking on similar opposition here.

Form: 2P412-1

Crutches Lad^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr J W Kenny⁽⁷⁾| T: William P Murphy| D

10/1

2-6 in point-to-points and finished behind My Oakclahome here two weeks ago. Would have benefitted from a stronger gallop and no surprise should he turn the tables here.

Form: 551P1-3

Danjaman¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr T Hamilton⁽⁵⁾| T: R K Watson

15/2

Second of three finishers on point-to-point debut in a weak race at Necarne two weeks ago. In good hands and the jockey booking indicates improvement will be forthcoming.

Form: 2

Hi Murphy¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr D G Lavery⁽⁵⁾| T: S McParlan| D

5/2

Won three point-to-points before a solid fourth behind Aintree Foxhunters runner-up Burning Ambition. Bumped into a useful one at Cork, but last run at Necarne was shocking.

Form: 11142-4

Is This It^p1,t1¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr T Reilly⁽⁷⁾| T: C A McBratney| D

25/1

1-34 in point-to-points and has two ways of running. Even his best would not be good enough here so prudent to look elsewhere.

Form: 3P336-3

Krisquin¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr L J McGuinness⁽⁷⁾| T: S Nolan| D

25/1

Beat a subsequent winner when landing a Durrow maiden in March. Unseated halfway when 20/1 for a better race than this two weeks ago and worth a check to see if the market is more positive about his chances here.

Form: U6P12-U

Pyrios⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: D M Christie| D

7/2

Beat the only other finisher at Loughanmore last week and that form is on a par with many of these. Yard do well in these contests and they have secured a top amateur for the ride.

Form: P5P3-21

Vital Island^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr M J Scallan⁽⁷⁾| T: R P O'Keeffe| D

9/2

Not at his best between the flags nor under rules this year. Beaten 25L when runner-up at Punchestown earlier in the month and that may have been flattering as the odds-on favourite had an off day.

Form: 263U-F2

Non-Runners

Captain Commander²¹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: P J Hayes J: Miss P Elvin

Forecasts

Hi Murphy (5/2), Pyrios (7/2), My Oakclahome (4/1), Vital Island (9/2), Danjaman (15/2), Crutches Lad (10/1), Captain Commander (20/1), Is This It (25/1), Krisquin (25/1)

CRUTCHES LAD was stronger in the market than eventual winner My Oakclahome here two weeks ago. The selection was held up in a slowly run race that day and has beaten that rival previously. Krisquin is less highly tried than last time, whilst Hi Murphy probably has the pick of the form under rules and in point-to-points but his last run at Necarne was terrible, whilst Pyrios is not far off this standard judged on his form between the flags. Danjaman split two ordinary sorts on his first start, however the jockey booking is positive.