14:05 Perth

Friday 28 April 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:30

BetVictor Highland National Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 8m 7.5s

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Selected odds by:

Innisfree Lad^v⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Theo Gillard| T: David Dennis| OR: 123

16/1

Third in last year's Eider and back to form from much-reduced mark when landing weak conditional jockeys' veterans' handicap at Hereford in February. Similar form when fifth of 20 at Cheltenham 9 days ago but more needed to resume winning ways.

Form:

Nearly Perfect⁸⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 122

28/1

Low-mileage 9-y-o who looked progressive a couple of years ago but offered little on belated return at Plumpton and not much better at Wincanton. Can only be watched on that evidence.

Form:

Geryville^t1⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 122| BF

12/1

Good runner-up efforts at Market Rasen before shaping as if still in form when third at Newcastle. Will stay and interesting to see how he responds to a first-time tongue strap.

Form:

Fairlawn Flyer^p⁸⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 119| C

12/1

Resumed winning ways at Ffos Las (23.8f, heavy) in this headgear in December, albeit in fortunate circumstances (left in front at last). Poor effort at Chepstow since, however, so difficult to know what to expect.

Form:

Just Don't Know⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Paul Robson| OR: 118

11/1

Successful twice last term and notched second win of the current campaign at Ayr (3m) last month, looking very much in control before his sole rival fell at the second last. Found run of good form coming to a halt at Kempton since, however.

Form:

Silver In Disguise^p,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 118

10/1

Took advantage of reduced mark when scoring at Wetherby 3 weeks ago by 2¼ lengths from Gentleman De Mai. 3 lb worse off with that rival here and not the most reliable, but stamina is assured.

Form:

Planned Paradise^p²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 117

11/2

Winner at Worcester last summer and good second here (20f) next time but just respectable efforts at best since. More needed.

Form:

Rath An Iuir^p³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Dobbin| OR: 116

16/1

Useful chaser at his best who capitalised on a much-reduced mark to land 3¼m Kelso handicap in December. Just respectable efforts in this headgear both starts since.

Form:

Concetto³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 116| BF

6/1

Well held all 3 hurdles runs but proved a totally different proposition sent chasing, jumping boldly to score on handicap debut at Huntingdon before following up at Musselburgh. Denied the hat-trick by another progressive novice at Ludlow but is well worth another chance over a trip he should stay.

Form:

If Not For Dylan^p³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 115| C

22/1

Returned to form when taking Sedgefield handicap (19.3f) in January before creditable second of 9 at Haydock (19.9f, good to soft). Needs to shrug off lesser effort at Carlisle, however.

Form:

Destiny Is All^p⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 115

11/2

Has won 3 handicap chases in Scotland in the last 12 months and good runner-up efforts in this headgear at Carlisle and Warwick last 2 starts. Has bags of stamina and yard continue in fine form.

Form:

Gentleman De Mai^v1²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Quinlan| T: R Dobbin| OR: 112| BF

7/1

Fair hurdle winner who made a good start to his chase career with cheekpieces added (retained) when second over 3m at Ayr and backed that up when filling the same spot at Wetherby, unlucky to bump into a rejuvenated rival. Sure to stay and needs considering in a change of headgear.

Form:

Return Fire^t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: P W Wadge⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 105

17/2

Back-to-back winner at Hexham and Newcastle in November. Respectable efforts when in frame on 4 subsequent starts but he probably remains a shade too high in the weights still.

Form:

Non-Runners

Court Master³⁰⁶

Weight: 12-0| Age: 10

T: M Scudamore J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Planned Paradise (11/2), Destiny Is All (11/2), Concetto (6/1), Gentleman De Mai (7/1), Return Fire (17/2), Silver In Disguise (10/1), Just Don't Know (11/1), Geryville (12/1), Fairlawn Flyer (12/1), Court Master (12/1), Rath An Iuir (16/1), Innisfree Lad (16/1), If Not For Dylan (22/1), Nearly Perfect (28/1)

CONCETTO lost his unbeaten chasing record at the hands of another progressive novice at Ludlow, but he looks the one who could still be ahead of his mark given his lightly-raced profile so is well worth another chance. Gentleman de Mai is another unexposed sort who's taken well to fences so rates the main threat ahead of Destiny Is All and Geryville.