Altoria Developments 'Jumpers' Bumper' NH Flat Race

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 3m 47.8s

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Selected odds by:

Divine Port^p1,t⁵⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Cook| T: Miss P Robson| D

50/1

Far from his best since winning a four-runner 2m Class 4 handicap chase at Carlisle (soft) in December 2018; has failed to complete in two starts this term (unseated rider and brought down); cheekpieces are newly applied.

Form: 3/136-UB

Felix Mendelssohn⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| D

50/1

Successful on his first couple of attempts over fences in the spring (Perth & Kelso) but very much back down to earth with a bump since; thought unlikely to trouble a few of the speedier types, and firmly up against it at the weights on these terms.

Form: 398355

I'm To Blame^h⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: K Dalgleish| D

11/8

A winning machine in bumpers (2-2) and over hurdles (3-6); broke his duck over fences (137-rated) with a game win at Musselburgh (2m6f, good to soft) early in the New Year; holds a solid chance (with On The Blind Side considered his main danger).

Form: 12-2221

Niven^p²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Ross Chapman| T: P A Kirby| BF| D

22/1

Couldn't reach the winner (Beau Bay) when finishing runner-up at Wetherby (2m3½f, soft) on Boxing Day; more modest since, and it's reasonably difficult to say how he'll cope with a spin on the Flat.

Form: 2-67236

On The Blind Side^p⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| BF

6/4

Talented (boasts solid form) but equally often lacks application in the heat of the battle; no match for the fast-improving Riders Onthe Storm in a 2m5f Graduation Chase at Ascot on his penultimate start; sole runner on the card for Nicky Henderson.

Form: P2-4P23

Sam's Adventure³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| BF| DWS

5/1

Quirky, but also possesses plenty of natural ability (3-4 in bumpers); has bumped into a couple of progressive rivals (Lord Du Mesnil and Domaine De L'Isle) when twice finishing runner-up over fences here (2m7½f, soft/heavy) this winter.

Form: 15-4227

The Some Dance Kid³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| D

16/1

Completed the hat-trick over hurdles when making all to take a three-runner affair at Catterick (2m3½f, good) in January 2019; has failed to beat a single rival in three starts over fences this season; others preferred.

Form: 111-556

Non-Runners

River Frost²⁵

Weight: 11-4| Age: 8

T: B Haslam J: R P McLernon

Forecasts

I'm To Blame (11/8), On The Blind Side (6/4), Sam's Adventure (5/1), River Frost (10/1), The Some Dance Kid (16/1), Niven (22/1), Felix Mendelssohn (50/1), Divine Port (50/1)

Nicky Henderson sends the 145-rated chaser On The Blind Side north seeking a confidence boosting success. On paper his chances of winning the race are relatively strong, so undoubtedly plenty will be enticed into offering the eight-year-old gelding their financial backing. However, he has been known to lack application in the heat of a battle and this is no 'gimme' with the once useful bumper winners Sam's Adventure (3-4) and I'M TO BLAME (2-2) in opposition. The Keith Dalgleish-trained runner has become somewhat of a winning machine (6-11) and offers the value based each-way alternative to the long-distance traveller.