Vertem-Leading The Field Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 5m 4.88s

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Selected odds by:

Do Your Job^t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Luca Morgan⁽³⁾| T: M Scudamore| OR: 140

5/2

Successful chasing debut in Warwick novice and bettered that form when second to Edwardstone in Wayward Lad Chase. Latest effort was poor but makes handicap debut against more exposed rivals.

Form: 22-1F22

Mister Whitaker^p⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 137| BF| D

6/1

Useful handicap chaser for Mick Channon. Landed a novice at Kelso over hurdles in November and shaped better than the result (made mistakes) at Kelso 41 days ago. On a fair mark.

Form: 60-2123

Fire Away^p,t²²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Reed| T: L Morgan| OR: 134| D

9/1

Useful chaser who has a terrific strike rate since joining a stable that is really thriving at present. Seemingly amiss when last seen 7 months ago, but no surprise if he's back on his game.

Form: 12-211P

Debece^p,t1²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: David England| T: D Skelton| OR: 132| C

7/2

Shaped very well starting out for this yard when runner-up at Sandown almost a year ago and was better than the bare result (pulled up) implies at Doncaster on return. Far from one to be writing off.

Form: 10/PP2-P

Informateur²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Ryan Mania| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 127| D

5/1

Signed off last season with a win at Haydock but he's yet to fire this season, breaking a blood vessel when last of 3 here earlier in the month. Others make more appeal.

Form: 21-5PP3

Brelan D'As⁷⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 119| CD

8/1

C&D winner in November and wasn't discredited on both subsequent outings. Dropped 2 lb and freshened up since latest outing, so no forlorn hope.

Form: 641134

Ascot De Bruyere^b⁷⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-3| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁷⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 117| CD

7/1

Four-time course winner who went backwards from his reappearance when down the field here 79 days ago. Becoming well treated, but has something to prove.

Form: 1P2F-38

Forecasts

Do Your Job (5/2), Debece (7/2), Informateur (5/1), Mister Whitaker (6/1), Ascot De Bruyere (7/1), Brelan D'As (8/1), Fire Away (9/1)

Given that DO YOUR JOB was only 10 lengths behind the Arkle favourite on his penultimate outing, a mark of 140 could prove lenient, so he gets the nod up against a bunch of rivals who have less scope. Debece, although obviously fragile, has the ability to defy this mark, so he's regarded as a danger along with Fire Away.