Virgin Bet Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 4m 18.7s

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Selected odds by:

Shakem Up'arry⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 131| D

6/5

Fairly useful winning hurdler who was running a good first race over fences when unseated rider 8th in handicap at Ffos Las (16f, soft) 41 days ago. Remains with plenty of potential in this sphere.

Form: 14280-U

Word Has It²⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 130| D

10/3

Progressive hurdler who easily got off the mark at Carlisle before following up under a penalty at Kelso when last seen in March. This is no easy introduction to fences but he can't be ruled out.

Form: F3/3211-

Destined To Shine^t³⁰⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: T Scudamore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 128| C| DWS

7/1

Scored at Uttoxeter following a breathing op last October and he ended last term with three excellent runner-up finishes. Has won off a break too, so he's a player resuming after more wind surgery.

Form: 19U222-

Phil The Thrill^t1³⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: K Brogan⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 122

25/1

Fairly useful ex-French chaser who easily landed 2m2f claimer at Fontainebleau when last seen out 13 months ago. Wears tongue strap for yard/handicap debut here, and he shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: P/3321-

Est Illic³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: W T Kennedy| T: S-J Davies| OR: 121| D

50/1

Dual handicap chase winner at Bangor and Doncaster last winter but he proved a big disappointment on his return when pulled up in Ffos Las handicap. Needs to bounce back now.

Form: 5/1136-P

Casa Tall^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 121| D

3/1

Made it 2-3 this season with career-best effort in 5-runner handicap chase at Exeter (17.5f) 27 days ago. Up 3 lb but he remains weighted to go close once more.

Form: 31-4131

Non-Runners

Le Coeur Net³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 9

T: A J Honeyball J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Shakem Up'arry (6/5), Casa Tall (3/1), Word Has It (10/3), Destined To Shine (7/1), Le Coeur Net (10/1), Phil The Thrill (25/1), Est Illic (50/1)

A case can be made for a few of these, but the most persuasive one is for DESTINED TO SHINE who scored on his seasonal return last term after wind surgery and can repeat the feat here following another breathing op. Casa Tall is weighted to have a say despite taking a 3 lb rise for his recent Exeter victory, with both Shakem Up'Arry and Phil The Thrill on the shortlist too.