Out Sam is worth weight
OUT SAM may be capable of defying the welter burden of 12-1 in the marathon Toalsbet.com Ulster National when racing returns to Downpatrick tomorrow for the first time in 2019.
Gordon Elliott’s charge has already won a National this season, having landed the Paddy Power Cork Grand National in November off a mark of
132, 8lb lower than his current rating.
Since then, the 10-year-old has contested some of the top staying handicaps, finishing fifth to Tous Est Permis in the Troytown at Navan, seventh behind Dinnie’s Vinnie in the Porterstown at Fairyhouse and, most recently, fourth spot, beaten less than 13 lengths, behind Invitation Only in the Thyestes at Gowran.
Proven over this sort of trip, Out Sam’s main dangers might be the Mags Mullins-trained Logical Song, off the track since winning the Cork National in November 2017 and Tom Nagle’s tough front-runner Danse Away.
The track’s leading trainer, Gordon Elliott has plenty of chances, with From Eden, successful on his first start for the stable at Navan (beating subsequent winner Mount Pelier) before failing to cope with Thereisnodoubt at Gowran Park, making plenty of appeal in the Molson Coors Handicap Hurdle.
His Multifactorial, runner-up in his last two starts at Navan, behind stable-companion Thatsy and, more recently, Battle Of Midway, should prove tough to pass in the bumper, although the Mullins mare Fasola Tido would be a major threat if reproducing her debut second to Santa Rossa.
And the consistent top-weight Count Simon, a course winner, is marginally preferred to Laverteen in the WKD Rated Hurdle.