help4Matt Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 6m 6.5s

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Federici^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 129

7/2

Stays 3m4f and was last seen putting up a decent effort in the Becher Chase on heavy ground from a 4lb higher mark. Had previously won over 2m5½f, so this drop in trip no problem and he looks short-list material.

Form: P55-514

Crievehill^h²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 129

5/1

Both his wins have been at Lingfield on heavy/soft ground and at 2m. Still has it to prove over this far after a couple of abortive attempts and was beaten 42L from just 1lb higher in slightly better race at Newbury last time. Bit to prove.

Form: 008-713

Wolf Sword⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 127

7/2

This sort of trip looks to be his optimum these days and he comes here in form after scoring at Wetherby last month. Up 4lb for that (front pair were 3½L clear), but yet to produce his best on heavy, which is a concern.

Form: 2221-41

Clan Legend^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 123| BF

15/2

Goes well on bottomless ground and ought to be competitive from today's mark. However, best form has been very much at around 2m and some doubt as to whether he can see this out against others with proven stamina.

Form: 5314-14

Granville Island^p1²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 118| C

8/1

Acts on any ground and sees out 2m4f. Without a win for nearly four years now, the last one being on heavy at Catterick from 4lb higher. Has now dropped 9lb this year and went well enough over further last time. Not ruled out if cheek pieces work.

Form: 2658-F4

Church Hall^t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: James Banks| T: Mrs E Bishop| OR: 116

11/2

Best efforts have been at around 2m4f and it was over that trip that he recorded an easy 10L success on his belated chase debut at Lingfield (soft) last month. 10lb rise very fair and his chance is respected now taking on a more experienced field.

Form: 3565/4-1

Swing Hard²⁷⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 113| BF| D

12/1

Has a decent record over fences at up to 3m2f and was running well over 2m5½f when finishing last season with a win and a second at Wetherby, the latter from today's mark. Check market ahead of reappearance, as he acts on heavy and has claims.

Form: 572312-

Voyage A New York^t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 105

16/1

4lb lower today than his only handicap chase success at Kelso in March 2016. Has won on soft and handles heavy. If you can put a line through his last run (in a better race) then he has each-way claims based on his Ayr run from November.

Form: 7F-P439

Forecasts

Federici (7/2), Wolf Sword (7/2), Crievehill (5/1), Church Hall (11/2), Clan Legend (15/2), Granville Island (8/1), Swing Hard (12/1), Voyage A New York (16/1)

Competitive fayre in store here and it was hard not to be impressed by the manner in which CHURCH HALL dispatched his field with an easy win on his Lingfield chase debut last month. A 10lb rise for that looks fair and although he will probably need to up his game against more seasoned campaigners here, he is open to some improvement over fences and gets the nod. Federici could go very well under top weight after a 4lb drop and is feared, while Granville Island, Swing Hard and Voyage A New York are others who make some appeal.