Betway Challenger Middle Distance Chase Series Final Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 5m 0.0s

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Selected odds by:

Princeton Royale^b²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽³⁾| T: N B King| OR: 139

5/1

Wondeful front-running jumper that's a joy to watch when he's on song, as he was at Ascot last time when jumping them silly to win again. Up another 2lb but can't be allowed too much rope on the front end, or he'll send them dizzy trying to keep up.

Form: 1-12441

Vivas^p,t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 132| D

9/1

Trip and ground ideal for him, has ground to make up on Princeton Royale on their Ascot run last time out but weight pull gives him a chance of doing so. Yard form leaves a bit to be desired, though, and on that, others preferred.

Form: 171853

Air Navigator²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 127| C

9/2

Slowly improving over fences and latest third to Bob Mahler looks all the better after that one went in again at Cheltenham this week. Trainer could be in better form but given respect all the same.

Form: 3-172F3

Dentley De Mee^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Chester Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 127| BF

5/1

Fairly consistent but hard to win races with (just two wins in 18 starts) and gave up the ghost pretty quickly at Ascot last time. Not one to fully trust for win purposes, although this step back up in trip may help.

Form: 324423

Enola Gay¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 124| D

10/3

Improved on recent efforts (which weren't bad anyway) when successful at Wincanton last time, and once again has his conditions here. 7lb rise demands more, but runs his race more often that not, and has to be given chances again here.

Form: 322541

A Place Apart^p¹³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: James Bowen| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 121

10/1

Easy winner at Kempton last October and still looks well enough treated on that here, bit in-and-out since then but soft ground probably no use to him last time, and he's had a break since then. Cheekpieces on too, and a good run may be forthcoming.

Form: 211443

Jarlath^p1²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 119| D

14/1

Came clear to win at Stratford in a lesser race last time out, a good effort and one that shows he's in good heart, but this is a tougher race and the handicapper is asking for more with a 7lb rise. Cheekpieces on here need to eke out more.

Form: 1P5331

Copper West¹¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 117| D

5/1

Lucky winner at Leicester last time out (held when leader crashed out at the last), conditions fine once more but hard to win with and this grade may be beyond him. Yard struggling for form too. Others preferred.

Form: 224241

Forecasts

Enola Gay (10/3), Air Navigator (9/2), Copper West (5/1), Princeton Royale (5/1), Dentley De Mee (5/1), Vivas (9/1), A Place Apart (10/1), Jarlath (14/1)

Princeton Royale will no doubt make another bold bid from the front and if he jumps as well as he did at Ascot last time out, he'll be hard to peg back. Enola Gay looks one that might take advantage if the front runner fails to fire, and given his consistency, he should be thereabouts whatever Princeton Royale does. But A PLACE APART makes plenty of appeal now he's back on better ground, and he looked a good horse when winning at Kempton last year. Take him to bounce back.