4:00 Downpatrick – Randox Ulster National Handicap Chase
The ground at Downpatrick is forecast to be Yielding, so this many not be the stamina sapping slog that it has sometimes turned into in the past.
Fakiera and Punitive both disappointed in the Kim Muir at the festival and it is hard to fancy either on their most recent form. The top weight, The Jam Man, has the class to win a race like this and has been carefully campaigned on the Flat at Dundalk, presumably with a view to getting him ready for this and he needs to be respected, but the 11-12 on his back could make him vulnerable.
Instead, we will take a chance on WA WA. He has won his last 2 starts, both over hurdles, to take advantage of a considerably lower hurdles mark, but he has looked to be back to his best form and a mark of 121 over fences could still be manageable.
A 4-time winner, he comes into this race in the best form of his life and is arguably still progressing, which makes him interest with just 10-5 on his back with his riders useful 5lb claim.
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