Roscommon  5.48 Connacht National - Handicap Chase - 3 miles 1 furlong -16 run - Good

 

I don't think there is great depth here but about half of the field has some sort of chance. At the top of the market a price around 7/2 looks skinny on known form for the De Bromhead runner Gold Bullion who was placed last time off a mark of 124 but who is in deeper here. Goodnightgodbless is an in form Mare but looks to be in a far deeper race than normal and despite a lowly weight, I'd be disappointed if she were good enough to take this, although a bold effort is anticipated. Hascoeur Clermont is a progressive type with wins off marks of 109 and 117 last term , after a quiet return, I'm not sure it's yet ready to cope with this field and a mark of 123. 

 

Outside The Door has a solid chance but may need further and that leaves me with a pair who are clearly my top rated at nice early prices and a couple at big odds who I think can run an enhanced place.

 

Gordon Elliott runs BALLYKEEL and HURRICANE GEORGIE and I am very keen to grab early prices on both as I think they have for some reason been overlooked. BALLYKEEL ran up a solid sequence last summer and after a quiet return does look very well handicapped here and in the right grade of race to run a big race. HURRICANE GEORGIE won last time out but looks very well handicapped despite top weight off a mark of 137 with a 7lbs Claimer and that form stacks up very well.

 

A pair at bigger odds stand out on past form and of them the bigger priced STREETS OF DOYEN at 33/1 plus early has a Course win, a win at the trip and very well handicapped with the 7lbs Claim and he has been in pretty deep over the years and still miles in the tank. If you wanted a 4th pop to enhanced places (but only if) then I think Galon De Vauzelle who has had a run and for whom these conditions are ideal, looks overpriced at 16/1 just 2lbs above last winning mark. (MG)