Rossmore Has The Form To Figure At Down Royal

John Constable never tried a yard on Saturday, racing in rear and staying there until the finish. However, the day was overshadowed by the tragic passing of a true hero in Many Clouds. His thrilling tussle up the Cheltenham hill with Thistlecrack will live long in the memory, as will the shocking news that followed. Many Clouds collapsed soon after the finish, and the ecstasy of his win soon turned to anguish. 

Many Clouds On His Way To His Famous Grand National Win. 

The stunned silence in the ring summed up the numbness that everybody felt in the immediate aftermath, and the news broke today that he was overcome by a massive internal bleed. It wasn't enough to stop him winning, and horses as brave, genuine and talented as him don't come along very often. The former Grand National victor went out at the top, came home on his shield and he is a horse that will go down as one of the greatest. Thoughts remain with his connections. 

As the saying goes, life must go on, and tomorrow's each way fancy is a chancy one from Down Royal. Christian Delcros is a trainer based in Donegal, and until I looked at Tuesday's card I had never heard of him. Rossmore's Pride is his first ever runner in the 2m maiden at 2.50, and this 9yo son of Heron Island has the form to figure if he is straight after a 797 day layoff. 

He has had just the one start under rules, back in November 2014 for Ian Williams, and he belied his odds of 40/1 with a massive run at Wetherby (16f soft) in a Novice Hurdle. Rossmore's Pride finished an excellent 2nd, just over 2L behind The Grey Taylor who went on to achieve a rating of 140 over timber. 

The 3rd home, Ma Du Fou, was 2L behind Rossmore's Pride and he went on to win a Listed hurdle and earn a rating of 139.  The 4th and 5th home both went on to win maidens since, and for a class 4 contest the form has worked out extremely well. Now, it has been a long time since Rossmore's Pride was sighted, and who knows how much ability remains. 

However, those that have form in this race have achieved very little, and it does look a very weak heat. If Delcros has been able to get Rossmore's Pride back to anything like the form of his rules debut, he could run a huge race. The forecast rain should see conditions ease from yielding, so he will get similar ground as at Wetherby. Stakes should be kept to a minimum, and a very small each way bet at odds of 33/1 is the order of the day. 

STEVOS' SELECTION: 2.50 DOWN ROYAL-ROSSMORE'S PRIDE E/W 33/1