14:40 Perth

Friday 23 April 2021

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2016:5017:20

William Hill Highland National Handicap Chase (For The Julian Llewellen Palmer Memorial Trophy)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 7m 47.84s

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Selected odds by:

Head To The Stars⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 129

20/1

Pulled up first 3 starts this term but having won at Ludlow last year, revived in time to win that corresponding race on his second start after a wind op last month. Opposable given patchy profile.

Form: 61-PPP1

Cyclop^p,t²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: M Sheppard| OR: 128

12/1

Rejuvenated this term for Tom Symonds when a 3-time winner. Respectable efforts in defeat for this yard, and this significant step back up in trip should be right up his street. Shortlisted.

Form: 121346

Boyhood³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 127

9/1

Has failed to add to chase debut success back in May 2019, however, went close from a tumbling mark when a close third at Haydock last month, never going well from half way. Others appeal more.

Form: 496663

Duc De Grissay²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 125

11/2

Resumed with eye-catching fourth at Sedgefield. Probably would have landed gamble but for unseating last in Borders National at Kelso in December but bounced back to form there last month. Player.

Form: 31-4F53

Lithic^p³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 125

12/1

Dual hurdle winner but long-standing maiden over fences who had scant chance of breaking his duck in Grade 2 company in National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last month. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 3243RP

Alminar^t,v⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 120

7/1

Dual winner over fences who proved better than ever in another change of headgear when winning 5-runner handicap chase at Wincanton (25.1f, soft) 43 days ago. Should give another good account up 5 lb.

Form: P-3P3P1

Tea Time On Mars⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 119

5/1

Second chase win when seeing off 7 rivals over 3m at Bangor in November. Remained in form since, showing he stays a marathon trip when going close in Devon National latest.

Form: 14-6142

Bafana Blue^t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Ross Chapman| T: M A Barnes| OR: 119

16/1

Did very well over fences last season, winning 4 of 6 starts. Poor start this term but took advantage of much-reduced mark to win at Wetherby (24.2f) 22 days ago, all out to hold on. Each-way claims.

Form: 669561

Monkey Puzzle^p³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: O Sherwood| OR: 115

18/1

Maiden winner over hurdles and better than ever on the back of a wind operation when landing handicap chase at Fontwell in August. Hasn't gone on from that, however, and others preferred here.

Form: 8-13438

Big Difference³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 115| BF

8/1

Hurdles winner who has hit the crossbar on 4 of his 5 starts in handicap chases this season. Jumping isn't always sure-footed, but drying ground in his favour and leading claims.

Form: P-22622

Buck Dancing^t²⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 10-11| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: J Bedi| OR: 114| C

50/1

Fine second in 3¼m handicap chase at Uttoxeter on sole start for David Thompson last summer. Claims if reproducing that form, but found emphasis too much on speed at Newcastle last time.

Form: 552-284

Mance Rayder^b¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Danny McMenamin| T: H Hogarth| OR: 112

17/2

Right back on song having failed to complete on his 3 previous runs when emphatic winner of 3m Doncaster handicap last month. Soon back to form after below-par effort last time but more needed here.

Form: UPP172

The Wicket Chicken^p²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: S Bowen| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 110

12/1

Won a weak staying handicap chase at Kelso in May 2019 (sole win from 13 starts in this sphere). Placed final 3 runs over hurdles last term but laboured effort after 14-month absence 25 days ago.

Form: 3P233-4

Non-Runners

Seaston Spirit²²

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: O Sherwood J: Non Runner

Overworkdunderpaid²

Weight: 11-5| Age: 8

T: L Morgan J: Non Runner

Gran Paradiso²⁹

Weight: 10-11| Age: 9

T: T Davidson J: Harry Reed

Forecasts

Tea Time On Mars (5/1), Gran Paradiso (5/1), Duc De Grissay (11/2), Alminar (7/1), Big Difference (8/1), Mance Rayder (17/2), Boyhood (9/1), Cyclop (12/1), Lithic (12/1), The Wicket Chicken (12/1), Bafana Blue (16/1), Monkey Puzzle (18/1), Seaston Spirit (20/1), Head To The Stars (20/1), Overworkdunderpaid (20/1), Buck Dancing (50/1)

A typically competitive renewal of this staying chase in which GRAND PARADISO is taken to complete a quick-fire hat-trick following a pair of victories at Sedgefield last month. Tristan Davidson has his string in fine order and he should go close granted luck in running. Cyclop excels over these marathon trips so rates as the main threat for Matt Sheppard, ahead of Big Difference and Alminar.

GRAN PARADISO (IRE)
CYCLOP (IRE)
BIG DIFFERENCE (IRE)

Prize Money

1st: £12,853.002nd: £5,921.003rd: £2,959.004th: £1,482.005th: £350.006th: £350.007th: £350.008th: £350.00

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