JESSICA HARRINGTON looks to have found a nice opportunity for Phantom Prince on his chase debut at Downpatrick on Monday.
The six-year-old has struggled off a mark of 128 over timber on his last couple of outings and it’s no surprise he switches his attention to the larger obstacles now. He’s a good bit superior to his rivals on hurdles form and if the Jeremy gelding can transfer that to chasing, he will be very hard to beat.
Hopefully there won’t be too many showers as he definitely seems to appreciate the decent ground which was described at declaration.
Local trainer Brian Hamilton saddles a potential danger in Wither Hills, who returns to the chasing sphere, having had a spin on the Flat at the Curragh recently. He’s a useful dual purpose sort and has already had a few runs over fences, the best of those on his debut when second at Clonmel.
On hurdles ratings he would have a bit to find but the fact he has chase experience will stand to him.
The other chase on the card looks an interesting contest, with Broughtons Bandit stepping into handicap company for the first time after winning impressively on his chase debut at Tramore. He was relatively unfancied then and sent to post as a 16/1 shot. He took to fences really well, however, and produced an effort which looks superior to what he had been doing over hurdles.
Rider Keith Donoghue reported afterwards that he had felt like a different horse from the one he had ridden previously over timber and he might just be a bit better over the larger obstacles. The handicapper has given him a mark of 110 and that doesn’t look at all harsh judged on his effort last time.
He also has run well here in the past, which is a big plus, going down by just a neck to Abarta over hurdles last month.
Painted Lady has been knocking on the door and ran a cracker when attempting to make all at Kilbeggan last time. She looks a danger but Broughtons Bandit is the one to beat.
Indian Temple goes well around Tramore and, given that this is a similarly undulating track, he’s another to consider.
Kilclispeen takes a drop in class in the two-mile-seven-furlong maiden hurdle and can score at the expense of the frustrating Ultimate Horseman.
Feel The Air has a great record at the course and looks the one to follow in the two-mile-five-furlong handicap hurdle while Sean and Noel McParlan had a nice winner at the track earlier in the month and could collect again with Cousin Bill .
GARY CARSON
2.55pm: Killiney Court
3.30pm: Kilclispeen
4.05pm: Cousin Bill
4.40pm: Feel The Air
5.15pm: Phantom Prince (nap)
5.45pm: Broughtons Bandit (dbl)
6.15pm: Boris De Blae
NEXT BEST
2.55pm: Iffjack
3.30pm: Ultimate Horseman
4.05pm: Mr Mulliner
4.40pm: Hurry Kitty
5.15pm: Wither Hills
5.45pm: Painted Lady
6.15pm: Whizzzey Rascal
