15:00 Warwick

Saturday 13 January 2024

All12:0512:4013:1513:4914:2415:0015:3516:05

Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 7m 45.8s

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Selected odds by:

Malina Girl²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: C Stone-Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 146| D

10/3

Progressive Irish chaser who stepped up markedly on reappearance (over hurdles) when scoring at Cheltenham (27.3f, soft) in November and might well have defied 11 lb rise had she not departed 3 out when looking full of running there following month. Of obvious interest off unchanged mark.

Form: P1P-01F

Galia Des Liteaux^p1²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 142| BF| C

5/1

Quickly developed into a smart chaser last term, the highlight coming when wining Grade 2 novice on this card a year ago. Landed odds in mares listed race on return, though underperformed in similar event at Newbury since. Has potential off this opening mark if seeing out longer trip. Headgear on.

Form: P154-12

Beauport³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Jordan Nailor| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 141

10/1

Progressive over hurdles and made a winning chase debut at Cheltenham on return last season. Largely underwhelming since, though suited by stepping up to a marathon trip when good second at Sandown last month, coming from further back than the pair he split. Claims if building on that.

Form: 249F-52

Fontaine Collonges¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 140| C

8/1

Benefited from step up to 25.6f when landing a valuable Haydock handicap on her reappearance last season. Ended that campaign on a downer but resumed progress on what was effectively her reappearance when good winner of Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day. Needs considering up 7 lb.

Form: 140P-U1

City Chief²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: R T Dunne| T: N J Henderson| OR: 140

8/1

Made a very good start over fences last term, landing a Grade 2 Wetherby novice in February, and he signed off with a good third in handicap chase at Ayr. Probably needed the run when fourth at Cheltenham (27.3f, soft) on return and not enough emphasis on stamina there 4 weeks ago.

Form: 2113-45

Rapper^p²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁵⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 139

40/1

Back to form when fourth at Cheltenham last month but likely to find this too competitive.

Form: 315P-P4

Guetapan Collonges⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: R P McLernon| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 136| C

12/1

Developed into a useful staying handicap chaser last season and he resumed progress when landing 3m handicap chase at Carlisle on return. Decent 11¼ lengths third to Malina Girl at Cheltenham since (11 lb better off with her now) and no surprise if he bettered last year's fourth in this.

Form: 1414-13

Major Dundee^v1³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Burke| T: A King| OR: 135

12/1

Limited to just 3 starts last season but looked better than ever when landing the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter (34f, soft) in March. Creditable third on reappearance here (25.5f) last month and while not so good at Chepstow since, the return to a marathon trip is a huge plus. Headgear on.

Form: 3/031-35

Broken Halo^t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 133

25/1

Useful chaser who landed back-to-back military races over 3m at Sandown last season. In the process of running well after 7 months off when falling heavily 2 out there on return 5 weeks ago.

Form: 68110-F

Credo²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 133| C

11/1

Likeable sort. Won twice in mares' events last season and added to tally at Wincanton (27f) on reappearance in October. Good placed efforts both starts since, including when third in Tommy Whittle at Haydock 3 weeks ago. Step up in trip sure to suit so not taken lightly.

Form: 134-123

Percussion^p,t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Reed| T: L Morgan| OR: 131

22/1

Three-time chase winner. Best form has come over the Grand National fences at Aintree, including when placed both starts this season. Stamina to prove.

Form: 353P-23

My Silver Lining³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: James Best| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 122

17/2

Signed off last season on a winning note at Cheltenham and followed up on return at Wincanton in October. Continued the good work when runner-up at Exeter and Sandown since but looks vulnerable up in class/trip.

Form: 151-122

Duc De Beauchene^b,t¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 120| D

66/1

In the form of his life back in the spring, winning staying handicaps at Wincanton and Fakenham (good second in stronger Kempton contest in between). However, nowhere near that level in more recent outings and easy to oppose in this.

Form: 214P85

Volcano^p,t²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Jones| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 118| CD

18/1

Strong stayer who is something of a Warwick specialist (3-time C&D winner). Excuses at Cheltenham last time but has work to do from 2 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 41P-250

Forecasts

Malina Girl (10/3), Galia Des Liteaux (5/1), City Chief (8/1), Fontaine Collonges (8/1), My Silver Lining (17/2), Beauport (10/1), Credo (11/1), Guetapan Collonges (12/1), Major Dundee (12/1), Volcano (18/1), Percussion (22/1), Broken Halo (25/1), Rapper (40/1), Duc De Beauchene (66/1)

MALINA GIRL has continued her progress this season and she might well have defied an 11 lb rise had she not fallen 3 out at Cheltenham 4 weeks ago (full of running at the time). She can make amends off an unchanged mark with her stamina assured (winner of the Ulster National in the spring). Fontaine Collonges was ultimately an impressive winner of the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day so rates a big threat, with Midlands Grand National winner Major Dundee another to consider.