Howden Insurance Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 7m 24.3s

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Selected odds by:

Saroque¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 116

2/1

Often runs creditably without getting his head in front, and just the one win in the last four seasons to show for his efforts. Not disgraced in any of his three efforts under this rider, finishing third twice, and as mark starts to edge down, isn't without hope in a winnable contest.

Form: 442P-58

Coolking^b⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr James King| T: G & J Moore| OR: 106

10/11

Got off the mark at the first attempt for his new yard when winning the Surrey National at Lingfield last week, making all the running and staying on well. The question is whether he's over those exertions, as it was a hard race. If so, every chance of following up under a penalty.

Form:

Knockgraffon King^p,t⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽³⁾| T: D Steele| OR: 112

50/1

Last win came in 2014 (for Donald McCain) and hasn't looked like following it up with another, with more letters in his form figures than numbers this winter. Beaten miles again on latest start and although soft/heavy ground no issue, needs a massive turnaround in form to get involved.

Form: 51PP2P/

Big Georgie¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: Katy Price| OR: 93

8/1

Winner of five point-to-points (on ground from good to heavy) but very disappointing on all three chase starts this winter, cheekpieces making no difference on the second of them. Mark is plummeting but shown no sign of taking advantage any time soon.

Form: 66P63P

Replacement Plan^p,t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: R Woollacott| OR: 87

10/1

Didn't fire on his latest outing but has the heavy Uttoxeter ground as a valid enough excuse, and had run well enough on his previous two starts as well. Comes into this in better form than a few, and as long as the ground isn't too deep, has a chance.

Form: 93272F

Non-Runners

Lost Legend²⁶

Weight: 12-2| Age: 10

T: J & A O'Neill J: Mr J J O'Neill

Forecasts

Coolking (10/11), Saroque (2/1), Big Georgie (8/1), Lost Legend (8/1), Replacement Plan (10/1), Knockgraffon King (50/1)

Lost Legend would pick this lot up on his best form, but it's a while since he showed anything like that and he can only be watched at present. This looks a suitable opportunity for SAROQUE, who isn't running too badly at the moment and this looks a bit easier than some of the contests he's been in recently. Harry Nugent seems to get on well with him and he can get his head in front today. Coolking would hold an excellent chance under the penalty but that was a tough contest he was in last week, and he may not have got over it. Replacement Plan wouldn't want it heavy, but there's a race to be won somewhere with him. 1. Saroque 2. Coolking 3. Replacement Plan