Racecards
14:55 Down Royal (IRE)
Bluegrass Horse Feeds Hunters Chase
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f 100y
- Going: Soft (Soft to Heavy in places)
- Surface: Turf
- €9,000 added
- Winner: €5,400
- 2nd: €1,800
- 3rd: €900
- 4th: €450
- Form 1/1111-1
- Age 7
- Weight 12-2
- Trainer S Curling
- Jockey Mr J J Codd
tracked leaders, slight mistake 1st, 3rd on outer halfway, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and no impression after 2 out, slight mistake last, kept on one pace run-in
- Form 12/212-2
- Age 8
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Mr P W Mullins
always prominent, led 4th, headed 8th, challenged when slight mistake 2 out, pushed along and led before last, kept on well run-in
- Form P22222
- Age 6
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer J J Hanlon
- Jockey Mr T Hamilton
rear of mid-division, 7th 4 out and some headway next, 4th and slight mistake 2 out, no impression approaching last, no extra run-in
- Form P/070-11
- Age 10
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer S Doyle
- Jockey Mr J L Scallan
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along and lost place after 3 out, kept on one pace from 2 out
- Form 1142-11
- Age 7
- Weight 12-2
- Trainer D M Christie
- Jockey Mr R James
mid-division on inner, 6th halfway, pushed along after 3 out, no extra after next
- Form 6/PP1-P1
- Age 8
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer E Bolger
- Jockey Miss A B O'Connor
mid-division on outer, 5th halfway, pushed along and no impression after 3 out, some headway when pecked badly last, no extra
- Form 42P3/U-3
- Age 10
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey Mr N J Redmond
always towards rear, slight mistake 1st, mistake 5 out and detached next, no extra, never a factor
- Form 1/0P-
- Age 7
- Weight 12-2
- Trainer A A Howard
- Jockey Mr J C Barry
always towards rear, never a factor, slight mistake 6th, detached 4 out, no extra
- Form 111-11P
- Age 6
- Weight 12-2
- Trainer D M Christie
- Jockey Mr B O'Neill
led, headed 4th, remained prominent and led again 8th, pressed 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no impression on winner run-in
- Form 3214-P1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer G Stewart
- Jockey Mr D G Lavery
mid-division, dropped towards rear 5 out and detached after next, weakened, pulled up before 2 out
Verdict
Stand Up And Fight won this in 2018 and arrives in top form having just outbattled BILLAWAY on testing ground under Aine O'Connor at Fairyhouse last month. He's not the most consistent of performers but this looks winnable though the runner-up looked the likely winner coming to the last but made a mistake and couldn't quite get his momentum back. Winged Leader didn't show his form that day and pulled up but Aloneamongmillions is unbeaten in five starts between the flags and a hunters chase at Gowran where he had 4 lengths to spare over Some Man. He looks a nice prospects but meets slightly better rivals. Solomn Grundy was a decent chaser with Henry De Bromhead and has taken well to the point-to-point circuit.
Formwatch
Aloneamongmillions (IRE) (12-2) Chsd ldrs, 2nd from 5th, b mstk 6out, chall aftr 4out, ld 3out, gng best frm 2out, 3l adv at last, snugly, won at Dromahane 3m gs in Nov beating Staker Wallace (12-2) by 3l, 8 ran.
Billaway (IRE) 5-2fav (12-2) Prominent, soon 3rd, slight mistake 5 out and lost position, tracking leaders and pushed along approaching straight, on terms travelling smoothly again approaching last where mistake and headed, kept on without matching winner after, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Stand Up And Fight (12-2) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Rewritetherules (IRE) (12-2) In rr, 11th 1/2way, gd prog to tr ldrs bef 4out, gd jmp 3out to 2nd, rdn str to chall, disp ld last, hdd cl hm, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Mr Mantilla (12-2) at Borris House 3m Yielding in Nov.
Solomn Grundy (IRE) (12-2) Made all, 2l adv 1/2way, maintained 2l adv to 2out, alw in command, cosily, won at Damma House 3m sft in Nov beating Peacocks Secret (12-2) by 3l, 3 ran.
Some Man (IRE) (12-2) Ld, quickened clr from 2out, stayed on strongly run-in, won at Tinahely 3m hvy in Nov beating Kruzhlinin (12-2) by 5l, 3 ran.
Stand Up And Fight (IRE) 16-1 (12-2) Waited with, soon raced in 6th, 5th before halfway, soon tracked leaders, prominent travelling smoothly from 3 out, on terms approaching straight, soon led, joined approaching last, soon regained lead and stayed on well under pressure, won at Fairyhouse 2m 7f Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Billaway (12-2) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Walk To Freedom (IRE) (12-2) Ww, 13th 1/2way, gd prog to tr ldrs 4out, went 4th 3out, rdn appr str, no ex bef 2out where sl mstk, ko, 3rd of 14, 10 1/2l behind Mr Mantilla (12-2) at Borris House 3m Yielding in Nov.
Walshestown (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Chased leaders briefly, soon mid-division, hampered 7th, ridden and no impression 5 out, weakened and pulled up after 3 out, at Clonmel 2m 5f mdn Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Winged Leader (IRE) 6-1 (12-2) Prominent, soon 2nd, pushed along from 3 out and lost position, no extra from before straight, pulled up before 2 out, at Fairyhouse 2m 7f Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Ringneill (IRE) (11-11) Twrds rr, went 4th at 10th, jnd ldr 3out gng well, wo 4l clr bef str, in command early str, easily, won at Kirkistown 3m sft in Nov beating Merrion Avenue (12-2) by 9l, 5 ran.