188bet.co.uk 'Confined' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 6m 30.5s

Russe Blanc^b³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 130

11/2

Likes it around here with two course wins to his name including last season's Classic Chase (3m5f, heavy). Still 3lb higher than that and has only shown one worthwhile piece of form since, when runner-up off 129 at Carlisle (3m2f, soft) last month. Contender if on song.

Form: 251UP-P

Sun Cloud^p²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: J M Jefferson| OR: 126

8/1

Hasn't won for a couple of years and now 9lb lower than when last doing so at Perth. Enjoys cut in the ground and stays up to 3m6f. Went well from this mark in defeat last time and looks short-list material with yard continuing its usual consistent form.

Form: 5P32P1-

Azure Fly^b1,t⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 123

5/1

6lb lower than his last success, which was 12 starts ago in October 2015. Has won on good to soft, though best form is on good ground. Runs consistently well in defeat, but very hard to win with and cheek pieces now swapped for blinkers in a bid to end the drought.

Form: 5-23222

After Hours^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 120

5/1

Yet to win over fences, having finished runner-up on four occasions from his last five starts. Up 6lb despite defeat again last time and connections now step him up in trip to try to eek out some improvement and looking at his pedigree that may be possible.

Form: 146-422

Cyclop^p,t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: G Sheehan| T: David Dennis| OR: 117

9/2

Dropped 3lb since his last run, though remains 2lb higher than his most recent success, in December 2015. Thoroughly exposed and on recent evidence he will need a further slide to win again.

Form: P2-533F

Regal Flow²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: R H Buckler| OR: 115

4/1

Has been coming back into some form of late, although tipped up three out last time when still going well. Has slipped to 3lb lower than his last win and not ruled out.

Form: 1552-79

Saroque⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 115

6/1

Another exposed chaser on a long losing run and has dropped to 9lb below his last winning mark as a result. Nonetheless he has had a few chances from lower than that success and cannot be backed with any confidence for win purposes.

Form: 442P-58

Forecasts

Regal Flow (4/1), Cyclop (9/2), After Hours (5/1), Azure Fly (5/1), Russe Blanc (11/2), Saroque (6/1), Sun Cloud (8/1)

One or two potential traps here for punters. If Saroque could be guaranteed to run to his ability then he would look very well handicapped, while After Hours could improve for a step up in trip. Azure Fly would not be winning out of turn but you can hardly call him a good thing, while Russe Blanc is not one to be confident about at present either. Regal Flow could make an impact with a clear round, though the suggestion is SUN CLOUD, who jumps well, stays well and also ran well when just beaten from this mark last time.