Nick Embiricos Memorial Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 4m 58.12s

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Selected odds by:

Lord Baddesley¹⁹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 130| BF| CD

9/2

Won a handicap hurdle here last autumn and showed he's at least as effective over fences when landing a C&D handicap in February. Another solid run here when third in April on his final start last season. Capable fresh and the stable won this race last year.

Form: 144163-

Deeper Blue³⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 127

7/1

Improved when winning maiden and handicap hurdles in spring 2022. Shaped as if needing the run on his Uttoxeter chase debut a year ago but not seen since. Open to progress over fences but a watching brief is perhaps the percentage call this time.

Form: 26511/6-

Zacony Rebel¹⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: T Lawes| OR: 124

12/1

Dual hurdle winner who struck on his Fontwell chase debut last autumn but rather disappointingly failed to build on that subsequently. His good record when fresh makes him a dangerous one to dismiss but it's hard to be confident about him.

Form: 6/1364-8

Abuffalosoldier¹⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 124| D

7/2

Won a 3m Newbury handicap hurdle last November but lost his way a little after finishing a good third at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. Makes chase debut back from 5 months off.

Form: 31306-7

Sacre Coeur^h¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 123

15/8

Only her third outing for Dan Skelton when making all back chasing at Fontwell (21.5f) 17 days ago. Looked well suited by the switch to front-running tactics and a 3 lb rise doesn't look enough to stop her.

Form: 196-231

Fairway Freddy¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 113| CD

12/1

Won a 21f Stratford handicap chase last October and just as good when runner up twice here later in the season (including in this race). Off 5 months, not at best when a well-held second of 4 at Fontwell 16 days ago but he might be sharper with the run behind him.

Form: 2562-72

Flagrant Delitiep²⁰¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 110| D

15/2

More miss than hit last season but his mark has come down a long way as a result (won off 17 lb higher in spring 2022) so he is well treated if staging a revival after a break.

Form: 446365-

Non-Runners

In The Air¹⁵⁸

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: G & J Moore J: J E Moore

Forecasts

Sacre Coeur (15/8), Abuffalosoldier (7/2), Lord Baddesley (9/2), In The Air (5/1), Deeper Blue (7/1), Flagrant Delitiep (15/2), Fairway Freddy (12/1), Zacony Rebel (12/1)

SACRE COEUR looked a different mare for a switch to front-running tactics back chasing last time and a 3 lb rise may not stop her. Chris Gordon won this race last year and his Lord Baddesley, who has gone well fresh before, is second choice ahead of Gary Moore chase newcomer In The Air.