7:38 Roscommon Tips

Barry Connell is one of the best at training his horses to change codes - chasing to hurdling or vice versa. Slane Hill made the perfect start to his chasing career 2 years ago when winning his beginner's chase. He has not kicked on but has been over timber for the last year or so. Now, up in trip and back over fences, if he can limit the mistakes and on his preferred good ground, he can go well under Walsh, who has done well in these rider-limited races with two wins.

The model I run suggests Doran's Law can cause an upset and win this one. Doran's Law is not too fancied by the early market. This model result has been driven by Doran's Law having an RPR comparable to the rest of the field but an official ranking leaving it very well treated at this mark. Goes out carrying the second lowest weight over this longer 3m 1f stamina test with 15 runners. A good second-place finish 35 days ago and looks to build on that here today. The model has issued a 'very low' stake indicator which translates to a 0.5pt bet on a scale of 0-4.

Mica Malpic was coming off a 529 day break when 7th and well beaten at Tipperary last month over 2m 1f but he did not get a clear run and was not knocked about after his chance had gone. He should appreciate the step up in distance.

Arrycan is open to some improvement this year, today is just his 2nd run back from a rest. That was a very good run when finishing 2nd of 12 over 3m 2f last time out, the slight drop in trip today may be more suitable. This horse does have very good form in the book at this course so he's difficult to overlook in what looks like an open race.

Back down to same mark as when winning at Punchestown in May last year. Has been nowhere near that form in three races this year but has shown gradual improvement, and if settling better than he did at Killarney last month, he could easily take a hand in the finish.

AMBITIOUS FELLOW may have been geared up for this specific race as a spring/summer target. He had ace conditional jockey Jake Coen aboard latest retaining the ride and he is well treated as a chaser given his significantly higher hurdles mark. Ground-versatile and a lively outsider.

This year’s Connacht National looks intriguing, especially with the rain expected to hit the turf in County Roscommon tomorrow. One horse I’m keen to back is Eric McNamara’s 11-year-old veteran, DONKEY YEARS. While he wasn’t terrible in the competitive Killarney National last month, he plugged on steadily over 26f. This son of ROBIN DES CHAMPS drops 1lb for that effort and gets a further 5lb relief thanks to jockey Gary Noonan, who has been in solid form with a 20% place strike rate over the past month. Noonan also boasts a respectable 36.36% place strike rate over the past five years at this track. McNamara, the trainer, has a 26.09% place strike rate recently. As mentioned, the expected rain should suit this old boy down to the ground, with his best form on ground ranging from yielding to downright swampy conditions. The significant drop in class is another positive. This Old Boy is now 6lbs lighter than his last win over fences and, when factoring in the jockey’s claim, he’s on the same winning mark over hurdles. At 16/1, I think he offers a little hope, enough at least to have a little skin in the game.