Michael Watson Civils & Groundworks Durham National Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:06 | Winning time: 7m 18.96s

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Selected odds by:

Tommie Beau¹¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: James Best| T: J W Mullins| OR: 138| CD

9/1

Winner of this in 2023 and third last year. Runner-up in Fakenham chase and Cartmel hurdle in May. Unsuited by drop to 21f when seventh over fences at Cartmel in June. Freshened up since. Should go well.

Form: P56-227

Bumpy Evans^h²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: C O'Farrell| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 121

5/6

Winner of his last 5 completed starts over fences, the latest a 3m Warwick handicap 26 days ago on his second outing for Kerry Lee. Raised another 9 lb but this rapid improver still looks a step ahead of the handicapper.

Form: 11-11F1

Fairlawn Flyer^p⁹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: S Bowen| T: M Bowen| OR: 121| BF

7/1

Arrives in top form, winning 5 in a row between March and June and even better form when second at Cartmel when last seen in July. Likely to give it another good shot.

Form: 111-112

Bagheera Ginge^p²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Mr Jamie Neild⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 120

5/1

Snapped a 2-year losing run when seeing off 3 rivals at Newton Abbot 3 weeks ago but hardly has the profile of one likely to follow up and his stamina also has to be taken on trust.

Form: 57-7231

Ivane^v¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: J J Burke| T: James Owen| OR: 108| C

6/1

Better than ever and likeably consistent over hurdles and fences since joining the James Owen stable, winning a 21f course chase last month and going in again over hurdles at Fontwell 16 days ago. 4 lb out of the handicap here and stamina to prove but still a dangerous one to discount.

Form: 3-321F1

Moodofthemoment^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 107

20/1

Three chase wins for Matt Sheppard but more miss than hit this season, including for new yard last 3 starts. Out of the handicap and would be a surprise winner stepping up markedly in trip.

Form: P-5P834

Forecasts

Bumpy Evans (5/6), Bagheera Ginge (5/1), Ivane (6/1), Fairlawn Flyer (7/1), Tommie Beau (9/1), Moodofthemoment (20/1)

BUMPY EVANS had so much in hand at Warwick last time that even a further 9 lb rise shouldn't stop him. Tommie Beau has been first and third in the last 2 runnings of this and is narrowly preferred for the forecast spot to Fairlawn Flyer, who numbered Perth's Highland National among his 5 wins in a row in the first half of 2025.