Winners Are Welcome At Matchbook Silver Bowl Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 4m 58.40s

Romain De Senam^h,t⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137

11/2

Class act over hurdles, touched off in the Fred Winter, and romped home at 1/20 to open his chasing account at Leicester in January. Couldn't follow up in a much better race at Doncaster (2m, good) but still has possibilities off present mark.

Form: 315752

Mercian Prince³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 135

5/1

Won a chase in France and landed back to back handicaps at Southwell and Sandown on easy ground prior to falling when travelling well enough at Cheltenham. Better than he showed when bogged down on heavy ground at Leicester last time and shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: P31F21

Max Ward⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 134

9/2

A dual winner over hurdles and returned from a long absence to score on his chase and stable debut in a small field event at Huntingdon in November. Steady progress in better company since, including when second at Newbury last time (soft). Better ground may help.

Form: 2212/13

Ballybolley^t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 134

9/2

The penny dropped with him over fences a year ago when scoring at Haydock and he won two novice events over this trip (both good ground) in the autumn. Tougher going in handicaps since, most recently when 11L behind Gold Opera at Newcastle.

Form: 2P341-3

Sir Note²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: N de Boinville| T: J M P Eustace| OR: 133

9/2

Would be undefeated from six starts over fences but for a third place finish at Aintree in June. Stepped up in trip to score over this C&D last month (good) but he had just been headed by Gores Island when that rival fell late. Tougher task now.

Form: 1P11-13

Long Lunch^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: G B Watters⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 131

14/1

Landed back-to-back handicaps last spring from lower marks but slightly hit or miss since, finishing tailed off in a competitive event over 3m (good) at Doncaster last time out. Better than he showed that day but still 4lb higher than when touched off there previously.

Form: 3F206F-

Monbeg Gold^p⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 129

9/2

Twice a winner in testing conditions over hurdles (both 2m7f at Exeter), and made an excellent chasing debut at Fontwell in November returning from an 11 month absence. However, has failed to build on that in headgear since. Something to prove dropped in trip.

Form: 8/28554-

Forecasts

Max Ward (9/2), Sir Note (9/2), Ballybolley (9/2), Monbeg Gold (9/2), Mercian Prince (5/1), Romain De Senam (11/2), Long Lunch (14/1)

Not an easy race to get a handle on and it may pay to give another chance to MERCIAN PRINCE who looked to be on the upgrade prior to getting bogged down in bottomless ground at Leicester last time. The prolific Sir Note may have been a slightly fortunate winner last time but remains in good form and is hard to dismiss despite his rising mark. Romain De Seam and Ballybolley are others with possibilities if putting their best foot forward.