Olivia Mellett Belated 21st Birthday Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:48 | Winning time: 4m 57.62s

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Selected odds by:

Sopran Thor¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Paul O'Brien| T: L Allan| OR: 122| D

25/1

Ended 2021/22 in good form and seen just twice last season, the only one to complete in a selling handicap chase at Fakenham last month. Left Gary Moore and started life with his new yard in trademark style when unseating mid-race at Warwick (20f) 13 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 421/71-U

Paddy's Poem²³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 116| CD

9/2

Confirmed the promise of his belated return when taking 4-runner C&D event in March. Unlucky to bump into an up-and-comer in his follow up bid at Exeter (19.2f, good to soft) just over 3 weeks ago and fancied to be thereabouts once again.

Form: 37F/512-

Alto Alto³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 114| C

2/1

Fair hurdler who left previous chasing efforts behind when winning 7-runner handicap at this course (17f, soft) 34 days ago by 3½ lengths from Not Another Muddle, finding extra when tackled approaching last. One to consider raised 5 lb.

Form: 3/2PP31-

Trevada^t⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 107| C

9/2

Fair bumper scorer for Nigel Twiston-Davies and similar standard over hurdles for current yard, showing improved form with a tongue tie added when second on 21.5f Exeter handicap debut in December. Not kicked on next 2 starts, however, and now goes chasing.

Form: 6/28256-

Not Another Muddle²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 106| CD

5/1

Just fair nowadays but mark reflects that and beaten only by an improving sort at this C&D (soft) 3 weeks ago. Mark eases a shade further and he could feature.

Form: 3/63322-

Small Bad Bob¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson| OR: 99

7/2

Maiden pointer who tasted success 3 times over hurdles during 2021/22 campaign. Discouraging run over fences at Chepstow in February but much better effort when third at Warwick (20f, good to soft) just under a fortnight ago. Needs to kick on from that now.

Form: 53552-3

Forecasts

Alto Alto (2/1), Small Bad Bob (7/2), Trevada (9/2), Paddy's Poem (9/2), Not Another Muddle (5/1), Sopran Thor (25/1)

This can go the way of PADDY'S POEM, who was unlucky to bump into a progressive sort at Exeter just over 3 weeks ago and can regain the winning thread. Alto Alto is put forward as the main threat having left previous chasing efforts behind when winning at this track last month, while Small Bad Bob and Not Another Muddle can fight out third spot.