Keltbray Swinley Chase (Listed Limited Handicap)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 23.25s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Ballyoptic^t⁷⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 157| D

8/1

Kicked off the season on a positive note with back-to-back wins, including in the Gr 2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby (3m, soft); set some stiff tasks and well held since; second preference is at Haydock (3.15pm).

Form: PF-1140

Valtor²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 150| CD

6/1

Former French racer; unbeaten in two starts at Ascot (2m5½f-3m), most impressive when springing a 33-1 surprise in the Listed Silver Cup in December 2018; solid third at Taunton (3m4f) latest; second preference is at Exeter (3.38pm Sunday).

Form: 1P0-153

Domaine De L'Isle^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: B S Hughes| T: S Curran| OR: 146| C

4/1

On a sharp upward curve since early December with a hat-trick of wins (Chepstow, Newcastle & Ascot); 6lb higher than when clinging on by a neck here (2m5f, heavy) four weeks ago; should stay 3m and is fully respected.

Form: 4-36111

Regal Encore^t⁵⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 10-13| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 146| CD

15/2

Quirky, but generally saves his best form for Ascot; came from off the pace with a late rattle to notch a third C&D win (heavy) prior to Christmas; sits 4lb higher, which in truth is neither here nor there; stablemate of Jepeck.

Form: 2082P1

Red Indian²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: Miss Kelly Morgan| OR: 141| BF

7/2

Ex-Ben Pauling; won doing handsprings on debut for Kelly Morgan at Ayr (2m5½f, heavy) in November 2018; didn't manage to kick on thereafter; fair fifth on seasonal reappearance in the Gr 2 Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock (3m1½f, heavy) four weeks ago.

Form: 14U00-5

Captain Drake^p⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 140| D

9/2

Posted a career best effort when striking over fences at the third attempt at Exeter (3m½f, soft) on New Year's Day, beating The Kings Writ by 5½L; tackles this race from a 13lb higher mark instead of the Gr 2 Reynoldstown Novices' Chase.

Form: 12-07U1

Like The Sound^t⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: P J Brennan| T: C J Mann| OR: 139

20/1

Strong stayer; 7lb higher than when successful at Taunton (3m4½f, soft) in March 2019; fell early in the Becher Chase; placed (beaten 5L) in a Cl 2 handicap at Cheltenham (3m2½f, soft) on New Year's Day; second preference is at Wincanton (4.32pm).

Form: PU1-9F3

Jepeck⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 139| D

8/1

Successful in three of his last four starts (hurdles & fences); all out winner of a Class 2 veterans' chase at Sandown (3m, soft) six weeks ago; this stablemate of Regal Encore sits 7lb higher; second preference is at Haydock (4.25pm).

Form: 62-1211

Forecasts

Red Indian (7/2), Domaine De L'Isle (4/1), Captain Drake (9/2), Valtor (6/1), Regal Encore (15/2), Ballyoptic (8/1), Jepeck (8/1), Like The Sound (20/1)

Ultra-competitive with the positive news being that all eight runners should stand their ground (second preferences elsewhere). Domaine De L'Isle keeps finding extra in order to fend off the unwanted attentions of the handicapper, and he is fully respected over this new trip. Stablemates Regal Encore (adores Ascot) and Jepeck arrive in positive spells of form, while the New Year's Day Exeter scorer Captain Drake takes his chance from a 13lb higher mark rather than tackling the Reynoldstown Novices'. Nevertheless, the selection is the Ascot specialist VALTOR who found his stamina ebbing away when third in the Portman Cup at Taunton (3m4½f) four weeks ago.