14:05 Haydock

Saturday 21 December 2024

All11:4512:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:15

Betfred Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 7m 16.0s

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Selected odds by:

Famous Bridge⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 137| CD

10/3

Dual C&D winner last season, including this race from a 2 lb lower mark. Ran well when fourth in Ultima Handicap at Cheltenham in March and returned to action with a sound second behind a course specialist at Kelso (26.2f) 56 days ago. Fancied to play a lead role again.

Form: 11PU4-2

Frenchy Du Large^p¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Ned Fox⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 132| BF

10/1

Dual 2½m chase winner earlier in his career who ended 2023 with good placed efforts over C&D/Market Rasen. Off 19 months, shaped as if retaining all his ability when second of 7 in handicap chase at Ludlow (25.6f) 17 days ago, despite hanging badly right. Claims with cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 4342/2-2

Regal Blue³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 131| C

7/1

Course winner who is a strong stayer when in the mood and he doubled his chase tally at Uttoxeter (3m, heavy) in March. Disappointing return to action when pulled up at Bangor 38 days ago but a return to forcing tactics may see him in a better light here.

Form: 2P1P1-P

Egbert^v⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: A King| OR: 127

16/1

A dual chase winner at up to 3m last season who was pulled up in Scottish Grand National at Ayr (31.8f, good to soft) in April and reappearance run in refitted visor at Exeter (24.2f) 6 weeks ago was a disappointing effort. Needs to leavethat well behind.

Form: 1P12P-5

Percussion^v1⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: L Morgan| OR: 125| D

12/1

On a lengthy losing run but he ran right up to form when second from out of the weights in the Summer Cup at Uttoxeter in June. Not at best when finishing midfield in last month's Grand Sefton over the National fences 6 weeks ago. First-time visor may put an extra edge on him.

Form: P42-427

Credo^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Chad Bament⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 125

7/1

Has done his winning in small field and returned to action with a good third at Wincanton (26.7f) in October. Rare below-par display when fourth of 9 in a C&D handicap 4 weeks ago and she's a likely candidate to bounce back (third in this race 12 months ago).

Form: 3465-34

East Street^v¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁷⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 123| C

7/2

Pulled up on first outing for current yard, but hasn't looked back since visor went on, winning handicap chase contests at Wetherby/Leicester and completed hat-trick in handicap hurdle here (24.2f) 17 days ago. Well worthy fo respect back over fences with his rider taking off a handy 7 lb.

Form: P6-P111

Diol Ker^p³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 120

40/1

A useful chaser for Gordon Elliott but well held all 3 starts in veterans' company upon joining present connections this autumn. Mark is tumbling all the time if refitting of cheekpieces has positive effect here.

Form: 0P7-P6P

Jacks Parrot^p,t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Craig Nichol| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 119

4/1

Has improved since joining this yard, winning at Uttoxeter and Perth in April. Went without usual tongue tie (refitted here) and shaped as if needing the run after 7 months off when seventh of 12 in handicap chase at Carlisle (24.5f) 20 days ago and he could yet get back on the up.

Form: 24411-7

Forecasts

Famous Bridge (10/3), East Street (7/2), Jacks Parrot (4/1), Credo (7/1), Regal Blue (7/1), Frenchy Du Large (10/1), Percussion (12/1), Egbert (16/1), Diol Ker (40/1)

EAST STREET hasn't looked back since the visor went on, winning twice over fences prior to completing the hat-trick over hurdles here 17 days ago. He could well be up to going in again returned to larger obstacles with his rider able to take off his very handy 7 lb claim. Last year's winner Famous Bridge resumed with a good second behind a course specialist at Kelso and he's feared. Credo and Regal Blue are others capable of playing their part.