16:15 Perth

Friday 28 April 2017

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:5017:25

Heineken UK Highland National Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:16 | Winning time: 7m 56.81s

Double Whammy^b¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 124

13/2

Defending Highland National Champion having run out a ready 8L winner of the 2016 renewal from Presented. Was in good form prior to that success (winning at Wetherby) and arguably less so this time around. However a live player from just a 1lb higher mark (before factoring in riders claim).

Form: 311-565

Harry The Viking^p¹⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 124

9/1

Gritty stayer who finished 8¾L third in this race to Double Whammy in 2016 (and is now 2lb better off). Has since kept his trainers fine record in Kelso's Border National going strong (5L winner in December 2016 from a 4lb lower mark), and also finished 10L fourth in the 2017 Eider Chase to Mysteree.

Form: 721744

Millicent Silver^v⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 122

9/1

Placed on three occasions since fitted with the visor, but ran in snatches and pulled up in a 3m4f Class 3 handicap at Cheltenham earlier this month (race won by Doing Fine). Dour stayer, and has won over this sort of trip in the past (3m5f at Bangor) but a few questions to answer on the reliability front.

Form: BP323P

Marlee Massie²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 114

18/1

Tough and thoroughly likeable gelding who thrived over hurdles from December 2015 when notching a four timer despite a 20lb+ rise in the weights. Has returned in similar form this winter over fences, beating stablemate Calivigny at Ayr in December (2m5f), and Buffalo Ballet (also at Ayr; 2m4f) before going down narrowly to Purple Harry at Kelso latest. Up in trip and grade, but worth a crack at this prize.

Form: 215312

Tikkandemickey^p²³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Daragh Bourke⁽⁵⁾| T: R Shiels| OR: 111

18/1

Picked up his sixth career victory when scoring at Carlisle in October (2m4f). Has broadly run well off his revised mark since, but despite being a 3m novice chase winner here in the past this marathon trip will push his stamina to the maximum (well beaten third in the 2015 Borders National at Kelso on only other previous try over such a trip).

Form: 44U2P3

Castletown Bridge^t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: P Stafford| OR: 110

33/1

2m course novice hurdle winner in 2013 for Gordon Elliott, but his sole chasing success from seven starts was in a three runner 3m2f contest at Musselburgh in November 2016. Tough to fancy.

Form: F514UP

Boric^p¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 108

18/1

Goes well at his local track (Newcastle), and is a dual winner there over 2m4f. However, showed new stamina reserves when downing San Pietro over 3m2f at Sedgefield on his penultimate start, but this looks altogether tougher up another 4F in trip.

Form: 553P18

Mister Don^p⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 107

10/1

Stable in form, and a winner over 3m2f at Doncaster in November 2016, and consistent since despite steadily climbing the weights. Now 10lb higher than that last success, but will be suited by these ground conditions and could come here fresher than some having been off since late January.

Form: 143232-

Allez Cool^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽⁵⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 107

18/1

Plenty of letters amongst his form figures, but a two time winner who got his act together when winning by a neck at Carlisle over 2m4f earlier this month. Well beaten by Boric prior to that effort and yet to win beyond 3m over fences (awarded a 3m1f Catterick handicap hurdle by the stewards in February 2015).

Form: P6PU61

Shanroe Street³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 107

7/1

Lightly raced Point-to-Point and 2m5f maiden hurdle winner (Ayr, March 2016). Improved over fences as he has stepped up in trip, and beaten only a neck by Oscar Lateen at Musselburgh last month (3m2f). This is far tougher, but he's unexposed and represents a Grand National winning trainer.

Form: 41-0552

Nakadam^p,t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: R P McLernon| T: R M Smith| OR: 107

6/1

A runner up to Scotswell in a 3m2f handicap chase at Kelso earlier in the month (a race which he won in 2016), so comes into this contest in fair form (Harry The Viking fourth, Double Whammy fifth). Every chance that he'll stay and he should be suited by conditions underfoot.

Form: 1-P8232

Landmeafortune⁷⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: M Todhunter| OR: 102

11/1

Improved rapidly this term from a starting mark of 91. Regularly placed over the winter months (5L second to Smugglers Stash at Hexham in December), and stayed on strongly to win in deep ground at Ayr in mid January (3m). Narrowly beaten latest (Smugglers Stash fourth) but upped a further 4lb.

Form: 3-22P12

Smuggler's Stash^v¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 101

6/1

Battle hardy sort with various pieces of form closely associated with Lendmeafortune. Twice no match for the progressive stayer Hattons Hill at Hexham in March, he landed a touch from a 6lb lower mark at Carlisle latest when downing Mo Rogue by a neck (3m2f). Strong, rugged type for which this trip should suit.

Form: 54P331

Non-Runners

Bindon Mill³⁸

Weight: 11-9| Age: 8

T: V R A Dartnall J: Nick Scholfield

Optimistic Bias²⁷

Weight: 11-4| Age: 8

T: H J Evans J: L P Aspell

San Pietro³⁰

Weight: 10-12| Age: 9

T: R Ford J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Nakadam (6/1), Smuggler's Stash (6/1), Double Whammy (13/2), Shanroe Street (7/1), San Pietro (7/1), Harry The Viking (9/1), Millicent Silver (9/1), Mister Don (10/1), Optimistic Bias (10/1), Landmeafortune (11/1), Bindon Mill (11/1), Boric (18/1), Allez Cool (18/1), Marlee Massie (18/1), Tikkandemickey (18/1), Castletown Bridge (33/1)

Double Whammy and Harry The Viking return to the scene of their 1-2 finish in 2016, with the latter named probably making most progress since by winning to Borders National at Kelso in December. However, the handicapper has both horses where he wants them these days, and they each finished behind NAKADAM at Kelso earlier in the month. He seems to go well during the spring and carries a nice racing weight of 10st 9lb in this marathon contest. Of the less exposed types, Shanroe Street could step forward, whilst the in-form Rose Dobbin yard are represented by the 'slow' but rugged stayer Smugglers Stash. As they've shown previously in the 2016 Eider Chase with Rocking Blues, they know what it takes to win one of these long distance regional 'nationals'.