Weatherbys Racing Bank Intermediate Chase

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 5m 5.60s

Flying Angel¹⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 157| BF

9/2

Showed some smart form last year over winning at Grade 1 and 2 level showing a very likeable attitude. Probably had had enough for the season when pulled-up on his last start (also made a bad mistake) but quite nicely weighted here.

Form: FP161P-

Frodon^t1¹⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 152| C| D

6/1

Capable of some smart form over fences and won six times and is still only a five-year-old but has plenty of experience already of fences. Now tongue-tied for the first time on his comeback run although he has a bit to do at the weights.

Form: 01F115-

Knockgraffon²⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 144| C| D

3/1

A 10L winner in a handicap against fellow novices in November at Newbury he ran well once after that and although taking second actually bettered that form. Not seen since he disappointed at Warwick behind Flying Angel but has a stiff test here.

Form: 71/3125-

Black Corton^t⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150| C

11/8

His form over hurdles was smart but he looks as though he can better it over fences and has already won three of his four starts this year. Yet to be really tested but 2/2 for today's rider over fences and very nicely weighted.

Form: 14-1211

Sizing Tennessee²¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: B J Cooper| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 137

8/1

Always looked as though he would make a better chaser than hurdler although that doesn't quite look to be the case so far. In the frame in three small-field chases before failing to cope with the demands of a big-field at the Festival; more needed.

Form: F0/234P-

Forecasts

Black Corton (11/8), Knockgraffon (3/1), Flying Angel (9/2), Frodon (6/1), Sizing Tennessee (8/1)

A cracking little heat with all of these expected at some point in the season to win races over fences. One who already has is BLACK CORTON and race fitness may give him the edge in what looks to be his toughest test yet but he is the only one to have raced relatively recently and looks nicely weighted here. His stablemate Frodon doesn’t lack anything in experience for a five-year-old and gives trainer Paul Nicholls a good chance of landing this prize. Flying Angel has the best form in the book so far but may just need this having not run since disappointing up at Ayr. Knockgraffon and Sizing Tennessee complete the field and although both look capable of scoring over fences this term the weights may be against them here.