15:55 Downpatrick

Monday 30 August 2021

All13:1013:4014:1014:4515:2015:5516:30

Remembering The McDowell Family's 'Caughoo' Ulster & Aintree Grand National Winner Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 4m 20.7s

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Selected odds by:

Itsalonglongroad^h,t⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: S D Torrens| T: J C McConnell| OR: 112| CD

9/2

C&D winner. 1 win from 3 runs this season. Latest win in hurdle here in June. 9/1, bit below form seventh of 13 in handicap chase at Tramore (16f, good) 57 days ago.

Form: 513-417

My Manekineko¹³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-11| J: G Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 111| C

8/1

One win from 2 runs this season. 20/1, won 8-runner handicap hurdle at Sligo (20.6f, good to soft) 13 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Not taken lightly.

Form: 5515-61

Western Sea²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: C A Landers| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 106

8/1

Fifteen runs since last win in 2019. Creditable third of 9 in handicap chase (9/1) at Wexford (16f, good) 24 days ago.

Form: P64-5P3

Rippon Lodge^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Cooper| T: J P Ryan| OR: 100

7/2

One win from 3 runs this season. 9/2, much improved when winning 9-runner handicap chase at Tramore (22f, good to soft) 15 days ago, all out. Shortlist material.

Form: 87P-021

Benefit North^h,t²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: D F O'Regan| T: C A McBratney| OR: 99| C

25/1

One win from 26 NH runs. Thirteen runs since last win in 2020. Eighth of 9 in handicap chase at Wexford (16f, good, 28/1) 24 days ago.

Form: 5867-P8

Just A Normal Day^b,t²⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: J C Gainford⁽⁵⁾| T: Ciaran Murphy| OR: 98

6/1

Bit below form seventh of 13 in handicap hurdle (40/1) at Sligo (17.9f, good to soft) 25 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Booking of Gainford a plus.

Form: 0-05527

Sani Pass^t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: M P O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 94

13/2

5/1, second of 11 in handicap chase at Tramore (15.8f, good to soft) 15 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 878-552

Clody Valley^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 88

9/1

17/2, very good third of 11 in handicap chase at Tramore (15.8f, good to soft) 15 days ago.

Form: P0-9953

Drummullagh Rocky^t⁴³

Age: 12| Weight: 9-12| J: C D Maxwell| T: S McParlan| OR: 82

12/1

Pulled up in handicap chase at Tipperary (16.6f, good to soft, 11/2) 43 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 6/4F-34P

Zagnzig⁷³

Age: 10| Weight: 9-12| J: S O'Callaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: H Smyth| OR: 82

10/1

One win from 36 NH runs. Nineteen runs since last win in 2018. Sixth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Down Royal (20.4f, good, 40/1) 73 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase.

Form: 3099-86

Forecasts

Rippon Lodge (7/2), Itsalonglongroad (9/2), Just A Normal Day (6/1), Sani Pass (13/2), My Manekineko (8/1), Western Sea (8/1), Clody Valley (9/1), Zagnzig (10/1), Drummullagh Rocky (12/1), Benefit North (25/1)

Both of RIPPON LODGE's wins have been at around 2¾m, but dropping back in trip may not be an issue on this undulating track, particularly if allowed to stride on. He pulled his way to the front at the halfway point when opening his chase account at Tramore recently and a 4 lb rise for that looks fair. Fellow last-time-out winner My Manekineko is second choice ahead of Sani Pass and Clody Valley.