15:57 Uttoxeter

Sunday 30 May 2021

All14:1214:4715:2215:5716:3217:0717:42

Clarke Chase (Handicap Chase) (For The Sir Stanley And Lady Clarke Challenge Trophy) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:57 | Winning time: 4m 53.7s

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Selected odds by:

Pistol Whipped³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 150| D

5/1

Ended last season on a high winning handicap chases at Plumpton and Perth, cruising clear to score by 14 lengths last time. Should go well again having gone up only 6 lb.

Form: 50/2011-

Imperial Presence²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 145| CD

150/1

C&D winner but finished a well-beaten seventh of 9 to Kauto The King in handicap chase at Newton Abbot (21f, good) 25 days ago. Difficult to assess at present.

Form: 7119F-7

Born Survivor³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 144| D

12/1

Smart chaser who ended a losing run when landing a Stratford handicap (22.6f) in March. Ran as well as could be expected when 10¼ lengths third of 4 to Frodon in Oaksey Chase at Sandown last time.

Form: 477713-

Falco Blitz³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N J Henderson| OR: 143| D

11/1

Came good at the third time of asking over fences at Southwell in February. Shade disappointing at Kempton but went like the best horse at the weights when runner-up at Sandown last time.

Form: 5/52142-

Pink Eyed Pedro^t²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: C Brace| T: D Brace| OR: 142| D

33/1

Likeable chaser who was better than ever when runner-up from off the pace in the Topham at Aintree. Every chance when unseated rider 2 out in race won by Kauto The King at Newton Abbot last time.

Form: 13082-U

Fidux²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 141| D

18/1

Shaped well after 6 months off when 2 lengths third of 9 to Kauto The King in handicap chase at Newton Abbot (21f, good) 25 days ago, finishing with running left. One to consider.

Form: 22416-3

Exelerator Express^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 138| C

7/1

Made it 3 wins from his last 4 outings in 6-runner handicap chase at Haydock (19f, soft, 9/4) 22 days ago, doing so in the manner of a highly progressive sort. Remains of interest.

Form: 23121-1

Nietzsche^t⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 134| D

14/1

Gained a deserved win in 6-runner handicap chase at Ayr (20.5f, good, 6/1) 44 days ago. Should remain competitive up 2 lb.

Form: 7/33381-

Really Super^v1⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 134| D

22/1

Creditable second of 8 in handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (23.1f, good) 41 days ago, better placed than most and no match for a less-exposed runner. Switches back to chasing in a first-time visor.

Form: 1P31P2-

Topofthecotswolds²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 134| CD

11/1

Doncaster novice hurdler winner in March who ran well back over fences when second of 6 in handicap chase at Kempton (18f, good) 27 days ago, albeit no match for winner.

Form: 3581F-2

Francky Du Berlais^t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 132| D

14/1

Quickly got back on track when winning 5-runner handicap chase (4/1) at Haydock (20.6f, soft) 22 days ago, driven clear. Nudged up 5 lb but should remain competitive.

Form: 22214-1

Barton Knoll⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: R P McLernon| T: J Mackie| OR: 131| D

12/1

Ran a typical race when 3¾ lengths fourth of 6 to Nietzsche in handicap chase at Ayr (20.5f, good) 44 days ago, losing several places late on having looked the likely winner.

Form: F/71544-

Havana Hermano^p²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 128| CD

16/1

Resumed winning ways back over hurdles in determined fashion at this course (19.9f, good to soft) 29 days ago. Returns to chasing from 4 lb higher and more will be needed if he's to follow up.

Form: 26352-1

Kauto The King^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 128| D

16/1

Has clearly been rejuvenated by the return to firmer ground this spring, completing a quick-fire hat-trick with his best effort yet at Newton Abbot (21f) 25 days ago.

Form: 3F411-1

Captain Tommy²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 127| C

11/2

First run since leaving Harry Whittington when winning 9-runner handicap chase at this course (24f, good to soft) 29 days ago, finding extra. Could still do better as a chaser.

Form: 52694-1

Tanarpino^v²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 127| CD

40/1

C&D winner who was possibly better for the run when third of 8 in handicap chase at Ayr (24.1f, heavy, 22/1) 26 days ago. Visor back on.

Form: 2/132P-3

Militarian^b1¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 127| D

25/1

Useful chaser on his day. Faced a stiff task in Oaksey Chase at Sandown in April but failed to make a significant impact back in calmer waters at Aintree last time. Blinkers go on.

Form: 0/38P4-5

Go Long^p²²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 123

50/1

Fairly useful chaser who 11 lengths third of 6 to Exelerator Express in handicap at Haydock (19f, soft) 22 days ago. More needed.

Form: 2/1522-3

Forecasts

Pistol Whipped (5/1), Captain Tommy (11/2), Exelerator Express (7/1), Topofthecotswolds (11/1), Falco Blitz (11/1), Barton Knoll (12/1), Born Survivor (12/1), Francky Du Berlais (14/1), Nietzsche (14/1), Havana Hermano (16/1), Kauto The King (16/1), Fidux (18/1), Really Super (22/1), Militarian (25/1), Pink Eyed Pedro (33/1), Tanarpino (40/1), Go Long (50/1), Imperial Presence (150/1)

PISTOL WHIPPED cruised clear to score by 14 lengths at Perth last month and still looks well treated on that evidence having gone up only 6 lb in the weights, so he's put forward as the answer. Captain Tommy and Exelerator Express are other chasers to be positive about and head the opposition.