13:30 Kempton

Saturday 13 January 2018

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:45

32Red Download The App Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 5m 14.6s

Bishops Court^p,h,t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 137| D

6/1

Good strike rate of 5-10 over fences, but it was a weak race he won at Wincanton on Boxing Day. Up 7lb which leaves him vulnerable in a stronger contest.

Form: 115-731

Mercian Prince³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 134| D

11/4

Running quite well until trailing in 8th of 11 over the big Aintree fences last time. Ran well for a long way, so rates higher than the bare form and is not dismissed off 1lb lower.

Form: 1F43-38

The Tailgater²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 126| D

3/1

Off the mark at the third attempt over fences when winning a handicap at Doncaster last time. A 4lb rise is fair and he has to go on the short list.

Form: 6F-1341

Breath Of Blighty^p,t⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: T J O'Brien| T: P R Webber| OR: 119| CD

5/1

Only win came over C&D in April and showed his liking for this track again when second of nine last time in first-time cheekpieces which are retained. Has to be considered despite a 4lb rise.

Form: F1-6462

Minella Tweet^t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-1| J: P J Brennan| T: P Henderson| OR: 112| D

20/1

Won at Fontwell and Southwell on his first two starts for this trainer, but subsequent efforts off higher marks have been disappointing. Needs to return to his earlier level of form,

Form: 6-11477

Rothman^p,t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: David Noonan| T: C Gordon| OR: 112| D

9/2

Last win came way back in August, 2015. Returns to chasing after a spell over hurdles and has plenty to prove.

Form: 3-3S228

Turban⁴⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: P Henderson| OR: 108| D

20/1

Not at his best recently, but go back to March, last year, and he was able to win a three-runner handicap chase off 4lb higher. Case can be made for him on that evidence, but is 3lb out of the handicap.

Form: 13-P825

Non-Runners

Exitas¹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 10

T: P W Middleton J: James Bowen

Forecasts

Mercian Prince (11/4), The Tailgater (3/1), Rothman (9/2), Breath Of Blighty (5/1), Bishops Court (6/1), Exitas (12/1), Minella Tweet (20/1), Turban (20/1)

Despite his good strike rate over fences, Bishops Court looks vulnerable off top weight. The Tailgater is feared if able to back up his Doncaster win and Mercian Prince ran better than his finishing position at Aintree last time suggested. Narrow preference, though, is for BREATH OF BLIGHTY, who likes this C&D and comes into this in good heart. Exitas may be a threat if able to stay this longer trip.

Breath Of Blighty
Mercian Prince
The Tailgater

Previous Winners

2017

Foxtail Hill

Weight: 11-0 |Age: 8

J: Sam Twiston-Davies | T: N & W Twiston-Davies

9/2

Prize Money

1st: £8,447.002nd: £2,480.003rd: £1,240.004th: £620.005th: £350.006th: £350.007th: £350.008th: £350.00