Belhaven Best Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 4m 25.1s

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Selected odds by:

Simply Ned²⁸³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 160| CD

9/1

Dual Grade 1 winner who won this in 2014 and 2015 and not seen since his Grade 1 win at Leopardstown last December. Regularly kicks his campaign off in this race and last three years has finished second twice and fourth. High enough in the weights.

Form: 412/421-

Forest Bihan^p¹⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR: 150| CD

7/2

Fourth in Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival last season and won this first up in 2017 off 4lb higher. Has a good record fresh and stable in good form. Likely primed for a big run.

Form: 3F3247-

Mcgroarty^t⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 148| CD

9/2

Up another 3lb following back-to-back wins taking his record over fences to 5-10. Produced another career best latest and his jumping has also improved. Rapidly progressive and although this is tougher he's one to keep on the right side of.

Form: 3-14511

Ballyhill¹⁸⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 142

3/1

Highly-tried chaser remains 8lb higher than his last handicap win. Not seen since running in the Topham back in April and may need his reappearance over an inadequate trip.

Form: 213330-

Theo^h²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 141| D

17/2

Last two wins came at Worcester and he made a good reappearance when second there last month. Has a good record fresh and therefore he may not improve for the run but remains a consistent performer. Shouldn't be far away.

Form: 54269-2

Nuts Well^p¹⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: R D Day| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 138| CD

3/1

Improved performer last season. Goes well fresh and won this last year on reappearance off just 2lb lower. Versatile regarding ground and every chance he could primed to kick on again this campaign.

Form: 62F446-

Non-Runners

Theflyingportrait¹⁸

Weight: 10-3| Age: 10

T: J Candlish J: Sean Quinlan

Forecasts

Nuts Well (3/1), Ballyhill (3/1), Forest Bihan (7/2), Mcgroarty (9/2), Theflyingportrait (8/1), Theo (17/2), Simply Ned (9/1)

A contest featuring four runners who have won the last five renewals but a chance is taken that we could have a new name to the honours list as the improving MCGROARTY continues his rapid rise up the chasing ranks. His stablemate Theo is a reliable campaigner while Forest Bihan won this two years ago, is well handicapped and goes well fresh. Nuts Well was progressive last year and is a danger to add to last season's reappearance win in this contest. The Flyingportrait has a superb record at this track, is in form and is another previous winner of this race along with Simply Ned who is perhaps less well handicapped.