15:55 Warwick

Sunday 12 March 2017

All14:2014:5015:2515:5516:3017:0017:30

Six Nations Rugby At 188Bet Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 8m 15.9s

Rigadin De Beauchene^b³²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: R T Dunne| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 123

15/2

Won a Grade 3 event over this C&D in 2013 and, though he has bagged a couple of staying events in the mud at Haydock since, he is is none too reliable these days. Dropped away disappointingly at Carlisle latest, but handicap mark is tumbling.

Form: FP-4686

Horatio Hornblower²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 121

15/2

Fairly consistent sort up to 3m, winning off a higher mark than this at Ffos Las a year ago, and warmed up for this with a solid third-place effort there latest. Feasibly-treated but slight stamina query to answer having flopped only only previous attempt beyond 3m.

Form: 4/251-66

Summery Justice^p²⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 120

22/1

Not that many miles on the clock for his age but without a win for three years and has become unreliable since finishing a runner-up in a valuable event at Sandown last season. Pulled up in first-time blinkers latest - dispensed with here.

Form: UU/250-P

Carli King^b³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: A Pogson| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 120

17/2

Front-runner who belied odds of 33/1 to win this race in a canter two years ago off a 2lb higher mark. Though he has had problems since, he returned to form with a good second-placed effort in first-time blinkers at Doncaster last month and a bold bid is likely.

Form: 099246-

Deputy Commander⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: William Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 119

8/1

Lightly-raced gelding who won in the mud over hurdles last spring before scoring on his chase bow in a 3m novice handicap at Doncaster in November. Has backed that up with two placed efforts and could easily improve for the step up in trip here. Looks a player.

Form: 25P13-1

West Of The Edge^p¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 119

8/1

Patchy profile prior to joining current yard ahead of this season and quickly took advantage of a lenient mark to bag successive staying handicaps at Wetherby and Carlisle. Has shot up in the weights as a result and was well-held in the Devon National at Exeter latest.

Form: 4664-11

Beforeall^b1²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁷⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 116

20/1

Was winning at Fakenham (3m, soft) off an 8lb higher mark just over a year ago but has lost his was badly since, unseating at Plumpton before a lacklustre effort at Ffos Las last month. Hopes of a revival pinned on the introduction of blinkers.

Form: 64/8U6P-

Talk Of The South¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson| OR: 115

11/1

Only taste of success to date came over hurdles and form is patchy since going chasing, though second-place efforts on this track and at Plumpton suggests he is capable. Didn't quite appear to get home in the Devon National at Exeter last time but too early to write off.

Form: 2F262P-

Vice Et Vertu^b¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: H D Daly| OR: 113

7/1

Proved a revelation when landing a gamble in good style at Ludlow (3m, good to soft) on his reappearance but shot up in the weights as a result. Decent effort to finish fifth in the Devon National at Exeter last time and remains capable of better.

Form: 5155P8-

Abbeygrey²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 105

15/2

Won successive chases in 2014 and could have added to his tally but for unseating at Ludlow on his return from an absence in October. Gained compensation in a staying hurdle at Exeter next time and also shaped well back over fences at Ffos Las latest. Respected.

Form: 5/U122P-

Yanmare^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 104

11/2

Proved a revelation when rattling off a hat-trick of staying chase wins in the autumn but shot up 30lb as a result yet has twice performed well in defeat of late, most recently over an inadequate 2m5f at Towcester. Never raced beyond 3m2f.

Form: UP-6111

Non-Runners

Azure Fly³⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 9

T: C E Longsdon J: Jordan Nailor

Forecasts

Azure Fly (9/2), Yanmare (11/2), Vice Et Vertu (7/1), Horatio Hornblower (15/2), Rigadin De Beauchene (15/2), Abbeygrey (15/2), West Of The Edge (8/1), Deputy Commander (8/1), Carli King (17/2), Talk Of The South (11/1), Beforeall (20/1), Summery Justice (22/1)

An open-looking contest in which runaway 2015 winner Carli King has to be respected after signalling a return to form at Doncaster last time out. Grade 3 winner Rigadin De Beauchene has now slipped to a potentially lenient mark and is also worth considering, as are Talk of The South and Abbeygrey off their current rating. Nigel Twiston-Davies saddles two interesting runners in DEPUTY COMMANDER and Yanmere with the former making particular appeal on the basis that he could improve significantly for this step up in distance.