Magners Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:47 | Winning time: 4m 15.79s

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Selected odds by:

Upsilon Bleu²³²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: Craig Nichol| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 142| D

8/1

Last two wins have come in optimum conditions at Doncaster over 2m with cut in the ground. Struggled (jumped poorly) when last seen at the Festival and returns from a break here. May well need the run off top weight.

Form: 4/86210-

Special Catch¹⁹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: J M Jefferson| OR: 139| CD

3/1

Has shown some of his best form over C&D and was very consistent last year ending his season with a good second at Perth (had run of race). Often travels strongly and despite being 4lb above last winning mark should go well here.

Form: 4P1322-

Lake View Lad³²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 132| C| D

9/2

Form in bumpers and over hurdles was useful and after shaping well on his chasing debut he disappointed last on his next and last start. May nit have been helped by being taken on for lead and back from a break more is expected.

Form: 1141/26-

Archive⁸⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 128| D

6/1

Left his previous chasing efforts well behind when winning at Wexford in June (reportedly had breathing op). Not disgraced in two subsequent efforts (better than result alst time) and now makes his stable debut; mark looks a little tough though.

Form: 557-145

Rock On Rocky^p,t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr Ed Bailey⁽⁷⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 126| D

8/1

Found his best form over fences when reeling off a hat-trick earlier in the year with the last win coming off 123. Bigger and more competitive fields have found him out in two runs since and passed over here.

Form: 5111P-4

Wolf Sword²⁰³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 125| D

9/2

Has had plenty of chances over fences and whilst he often jumps and travels well his finishing effort can be a little weak at times. Showed more resolve to win back in April (novice chase) but has never won off a mark this high.

Form: 312221-

Ubaltique^b,t¹⁵⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 125| CD

11/1

Has had a fairly lengthy career over fences and showed his best in January when winning at Haydock off 124. He's not the most consistent though and was never really in much form after that and overall is one to be wary of.

Form: 4215P-P

Mumgos Debut^t⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 114| D

11/1

Has a reasonable chasing record albeit in lower grades than this and his latest win was a particularly bloodless one (only rival fell first). May well have still needed the run last time out but overall this looks too taxing for him.

Form: 3U1P-17

Forecasts

Special Catch (3/1), Lake View Lad (9/2), Wolf Sword (9/2), Archive (6/1), Upsilon Bleu (8/1), Rock On Rocky (8/1), Ubaltique (11/1), Mumgos Debut (11/1)

Some decent performers meet in this although overall the event rather lacks any depth and it may not take as much winning as some other events on the card. Wolf Sword has the look of one who should have won more over fences as he jumps well but often fails to finish his race off. Upsilon Bleu is back off his last winning mark after finding the Festival far too taxing and flat left-handed tracks are probably his type of course making him a danger here. SPECIAL CATCH is a dual C&D winner though and this strong traveller should be suited by a strongly run 2m’s. Lake View Lad is probably capable of better than he has shown over fences while Archive is interesting on his first run for Brian Ellison having been a winner over fences in Ireland.