Phil Nelson Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 5m 56.4s

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Selected odds by:

Walt^t,v⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 140| D

7/2

Winner of valuable Grade 3 handicap at Kempton in February, and latest effort at Cheltenham best forgotten as soft ground no use to him. Trip and ground both fine, and track will suit, so could easily bounce back and not discounted.

Form: 65121P

Special Prep^p,t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 137| D

9/2

Improving stayer, jumps well and could be called the winner at Newcastle last time some way from home. Quick ground suits him and he'll be staying on at the business end when others have had enough. Big chance if tighter track doesn't inconvenience.

Form: 382121

More Buck's^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 135| CD

7/1

Easy winner at Ludlow in January and only 2lb higher here, so no qualms from a handicapping point of view, but form since then mixed, to say the least. However, is a C&D winner and yard, after a poor spell, may be on the way back, so not ruled out.

Form: 7P1P4U

Progress Drive^b1⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Craig Nichol| T: N G Richards| OR: 132| D

11/1

Couple of decent efforts to his name this winter, including over 4m at Kelso, so clearly stays very well, but well beaten in the Eider Chase when last seen and it may be the handicapper has his measure at present.

Form: 127-430

Red Giant^v¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 131| D

10/1

Stays well and likes good ground, so no issue with conditions, latest effort easily forgiven as he was outclassed at Aintree but previous second to useful Cloth Cap reads well. Place chances at worst.

Form: 25R22P

Swingbridge^b,t¹³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| OR: 130| CD

15/2

C&D winner here last September (on good ground) and just 5lb higher here, so chances from a handicapping point of view. Likely kept fresh for this (has own after a break in the past) and yard do so well here, he must be a player.

Form: 610590

Ballykan^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128| C| D

8/1

Poor effort at Fakenham last time but possible he's a bit happier right handed, so could leave that behind. Course winner that looks on a fair mark now, and yard have plenty of success here, so could take a hand in the finish.

Form: 22-2425

Valadom^t,v¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 126| D

4/1

Bold jumping front runner that can be hard to catch on a going day, back to form at Kelso last time out and a repeat of that would give him a chance. Needs a touch more off this mark but expect a good show all the same.

Form: 435242

Forecasts

Walt (7/2), Valadom (4/1), Special Prep (9/2), More Buck's (7/1), Swingbridge (15/2), Ballykan (8/1), Red Giant (10/1), Progress Drive (11/1)

With Valadom and More Buck's in attendance this will be run at a solid gallop. That should suit SPECIAL PREP, who travels like a dream in his races and stays a bit further than this, so won't fail for a lack of stamina either. Walt may be the one to give him the most to do, having already won a big handicap this season and can easily be forgiven his latest run on ground too soft.