Southern Contract Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:51 | Winning time: 5m 32.4s

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Selected odds by:

Call Off The Dogs⁶⁹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: M Goldstein| T: G & J Moore| OR: 102| C

28/1

Career best when winning 5-runner handicap chase at Plumpton (25.7f, good, 6/5). Off almost 2 years since and 1 of 3 runners for yard here. Market might be best guide to his claims.

Form:

Flamelco³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 100

9/2

A fairly useful winning hurdler in France who posted much his best effort for his current yard when third of 13 in 2m handicap chase at Lingfield on penultimate start. Pulled up at Plumpton since but too soon to write off.

Form:

Lightonthewing¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 87| C| D

9/2

Doubled his tally over fences with a likeable front-running display at this track a year ago. Has shaped as if in need of the run on both outings this season, so might have been primed for this.

Form:

West Orchard^p,t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 81

9/2

Jumped well when successful at Plumpton in November and back on track when runner-up at Wincanton last time. Hard to rely on but can't be dismissed in a thin race.

Form:

Valirann Gold^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: G Sheehan| T: H Brown| OR: 81

5/4

Opened his account in a Chepstow handicap off this mark last January and best effort since when runner-up at Fontwell on Boxing Day. Out of the weights on both subsequent starts, so this looks more realistic.

Form:

Millies Mite^p,t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: K Jewell| OR: 74

10/1

Long-standing maiden who wasn't at her best at Plumpton last month. Others make more appeal.

Form:

Non-Runners

Mortens Leam¹⁵

Weight: 11-9| Age: 12

T: M Hawker J: Harry Reed

Walk In The Wild⁵⁷

Weight: 11-5| Age: 8

T: G & J Moore J: Caoilin Quinn

Forecasts

Valirann Gold (5/4), Walk In The Wild (4/1), Flamelco (9/2), West Orchard (9/2), Lightonthewing (9/2), Millies Mite (10/1), Mortens Leam (14/1), Call Off The Dogs (28/1)

Gary Moore holds quite a strong hand and, while WALK IN THE WILD hasn't been in top form, he's a likely candidate to bounce back after a wind op/in a first-time tongue tie, so he's the tentative choice. West Orchard arrives on the back of a solid showing and is feared along with Valirann Gold.