Creativevents Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 5m 28.45s

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Selected odds by:

Mercian Prince^p⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 146| D

16/1

A seven-time winner over fences and acts on all ground but has never won from a mark this high. Pulled up on reappearance on first start since wind surgery and while entitled to need that run, probably needs a career best here.

Form: 71801-P

Flying Angel^v²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 140

3/1

Won three races over fences as a novice but on a losing run since April 2017. Has run well in some big races, particularly at the Cheltenham Festival last year and his handicap mark is starting to look more attractive.

Form: 87556-4

Mr Medic²⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 139| CD

13/2

Two-time course winner including this race last year but went badly off the boil in three subsequent starts. 5lb above his last winning mark but warrants respect with his respectable strike-rate over fences (5-11).

Form: 31/166P-

Dell Oro^p²³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 135| C

14/1

Won a six-runner novice handicap chase at Huntingdon in January but hasn't beaten a rival home in four subsequent starts (failing to complete twice) and hard to recommend on that basis alone.

Form: 41P3P3-

Didero Vallis²⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 134| D

9/2

Won twice last season, both over similar trips to this on soft ground. Performed with credit in a competitive Grade 3 Handicap at the Festival when last seen but entitled to need the run having not been seen since.

Form: 371185-

The Kings Writ²⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Bryony Frost| T: K Woollacott| OR: 133| BF

12/1

Won twice in heavy ground at Exeter last year and running well in defeat when last seen at Sandown following a good fourth on Cheltenham Trials Day. First outing of the season and has a career high mark but likely capable if fully fit.

Form: 21/F142-

Sky Pirate³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 132| BF

7/4

Yet to win in six starts over fences and fell last time out on seasonal reappearance at Wetherby. A previous seventh at the Cheltenham Festival was more encouraging though and interesting if he can bounce back here.

Form: 22B47-F

Non-Runners

Kayf Blanco³⁷

Weight: 11-0| Age: 10

T: D Killahena & G McPherson J: Kielan Woods

Forecasts

Sky Pirate (7/4), Flying Angel (3/1), Didero Vallis (9/2), Mr Medic (13/2), Kayf Blanco (15/2), The Kings Writ (12/1), Dell Oro (14/1), Mercian Prince (16/1)

A trappy heat but it might be worth taking a chance on SKY PIRATE who has given the impression he's well-handicapped at times and gets the useful 3lb claim of Jonjo O'Neill Jnr. Kayf Blanco isn't ruled out if he can build on his reappearance and Flying Angel is feasibly handicapped if he can find some of his old form.