Visit attheraces.com Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 4m 5.6s

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Selected odds by:

Mcgroarty^t¹²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 149| CD

4/1

Good chasing record (6-13), includes a C&D win, in the form of his life last year winning four times including a hat-trick which saw his mark rise to 148. Given a tough task off a break when last seen in Grand Annual, handicapper looks in charge.

Form: 5111PP-

Croco Bay^p¹²⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 11-5| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 142| D

7/1

Veteran chaser, surprise 66-1 winner of Grand Annual (2019), not won since but showed he has retained his ability on a couple of occasions. Failed to dominate and repeat his 2019 Cheltenham heroics, good record fresh, yard in good form of late.

Form: 21/3729-

Double W's¹⁶⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 139| D

7/1

Lightly-raced since completing a small-field handicap chase 2m hat-trick in June last year, final victory coming off 1lb lower mark. Looked rather laboured in his last two starts (pulled up when last seen), back from a break with questions to answer.

Form: 1/1137P-

Hatcher⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| CD

7/4

Useful hurdler/chaser often making all in free-wheeling style, can find little at the end of races though on occasions. Not seen over fences since earlier in the year (on back of another wind op), won a jumpers' bumper since, poor on Flat last time.

Form: 451601-

Candy Burg^t²⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 128| D

14/1

A record of 5-9 over fences rather masks his inconsistency although he has slipped back to his last winning mark after running in claimers (hurdles/chases) when last seen. May need this outing (off a fair absence), ran poorly when last seen.

Form: 518636-

Fanzio^t¹³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 126| D

10/3

Winning hurdler, showed much improved form to get off the mark over fences (third attempt) making all (jumped soundly) at Stratford (2m1f) in March. Went with zest on that occasion, up 8lb in better grade with pace pressure likely, scope to improve.

Form: 17F221-

Forecasts

Hatcher (7/4), Fanzio (10/3), Mcgroarty (4/1), Croco Bay (7/1), Double W's (7/1), Candy Burg (14/1)

An intriguing contest with this sure to be run at a good pace (three of these have shown good form when pace pushing). FANZIO drew clear easily to win by over 8L at Stratford in March and may be capable of overcoming an 8lb rise plus a rise in grade to follow up. As a 5yo he surely has some more scope to progress with his likely rivals on the front end being the veteran Croco Bay (from a yard in good form) and Hatcher who often finishes weakly. If that trio do compromise their chances with a pace war McGroarty may be the beneficiary despite having a stiff looking mark to contend with.