Warrior Down Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 5m 45.75s

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Selected odds by:

Cloughroe^p,t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny Gilligan| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 110

9/2

Winless following 16 starts overall, but arrives here on the back of close-calls in handicap chases at Killarney (20.5f, good to soft) and Limerick (22.7f, good). Lightly-raced over fences and this Irish raider should have a part to play.

Form: 7705-22

Just A Memory¹¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: T Ellis| OR: 101WS

12/1

Bettered tame hurdles debut when runner-up in a Southwell novice on New Year's Day, but no show in 2 subsequent starts and probably best watched starting out over fences here for new connections. Has undergone a wind op.

Form: 44/625P-

Wild Nephin^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Conor Ring| T: R Potter| OR: 100

12/1

Point winner who opened hurdles account at the seventh attempt when scoring by a whisker at Newcastle (21f, good) in March. Recent effort on the Flat was lacklustre, though, and improvement needed now moving back up in trip for this chase debut.

Form: 64P521-

King Of Cong¹⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 100

11/1

Successful on handicap debut over hurdles for Terence O'Brien at Limerick last spring. Struggled since, including in a trio of maiden chases, but it wouldn't be the biggest of surprises were he to also deliver a bold show on his handicap bow in this sphere for new connections.

Form: 1P/4420-

Culligran²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Kielan Woods| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 87| D

13/8

Hurdles winner at Hereford in November and went one better compared to her chase debut when narrowly seeing off a next-time-out winner in a Newton Abbot handicap (21f, good) last time. Up just 2 lb and this sound jumper looks the one to beat.

Form: 3044-21

Wearelongterm^p⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 86WS

5/1

Showed promise over hurdles when runner-up at Wetherby in January, but nowhere near that level since, including in this sphere. Has undergone a wind op since his latest start.

Form: 728PP6-

Am Still Here^p³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 83| BF

9/2

Runner-up twice over hurdles earlier this year and has also found just one too good switched to fences at Hexham (both at 2½m on good ground) the last twice. A first career win is surely not far away and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 9202-22

Non-Runners

Sky Luna³⁴

Weight: 10-9| Age: 8

T: James Moffatt J: Charlotte Jones

Forecasts

Culligran (13/8), Cloughroe (9/2), Am Still Here (9/2), Wearelongterm (5/1), Sky Luna (10/1), King Of Cong (11/1), Just A Memory (12/1), Wild Nephin (12/1)

CULLIGRAN has probably got off lightly having gone up just 2 lb for her Newton Abbot success earlier this month, given that the rival she pulled clear of the rest with went on to score at the same course on Tuesday. Judged on their recent exploits, Am Still Here and Cloughroe shouldn't remain maidens for too much longer, while King of Cong is also worth a second look on his first start for new connections.