Downpatrick 3:57 Result

Luker's Tipple has been in excellent form, winning his last two starts and showing a progressive profile (-34111), with the top rating of 120 shared only with Brother Walfrid. Gavin Cromwell's yard is in good form and Keith Donoghue's booking suggests confidence. The horse looks to have improved with every run and is clearly suited by this longer trip judging by the recent scoring pattern. Brother Walfrid (also 120, trained by Elliott with Kennedy up) is the obvious market rival, but his form figures (2-4152) show more inconsistency - a couple of mid-pack efforts mixed among the placed runs, whereas Luker's Tipple has strung together three wins in a row without matching questions. Mr Master Mac (3-1722) has been knocking on the door but hasn't got his head in front as recently and looks the sort who might need this step up to find the extra needed to reverse placings with the front two. The likes of Gangster Granny and Kashchei have been in good recent form but are 6-7lb worse off on official ratings and have question marks stepping up in class against these leaders. Lady Lena is interesting for the in-form Mullins yard but is unexposed and has never scored, making it hard to trust over one that is proven at winning right now. Overall, Luker's Tipple's combination of top rating, in-form figures and a stable/jockey unit that looks to have him spot on gives him the best combination of solid form and marketable claims in this competitive novice.