footballacca.tips 'Confined' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 6m 45.00s

Alvarado⁵²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130

5/2

Useful staying chaser on his day and placed in two running's of the Grand National in the past. Ran well to finish third in a competitive contest at Exeter (3m, good-to-soft) on seasonal debut last time and likely to run well once more.

Form: 6F6P4-3

Some Are Lucky^p1⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 130

8/1

Placed four times from five starts over fences including in a novice chase on seasonal debut at Stratford (good) in October. Disappointed in a handicap contest subsequently and wears cheekpieces for the first time today.

Form: 3320-28

Royale Knight^b²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 129| D

16/1

Finished a decent fourth over an extended 4m at Kelso (good-to-soft) in first time cheekpieces last December but disappointing in three starts since and blinkers are tried for the first time since 2011 having pulled up last time out.

Form: 5640-4P

Mercers Court²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King| OR: 129

25/1

Winner of five of his 14 starts over fences but was beaten when falling three out on his latest chase start at Fakenham (3m, good) in October. Well held over hurdles subsequently and cheekpieces worn the last twice are absent today.

Form: 2-4P5F7

A Good Skin²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: T R George| OR: 120| BF| D

11/4

Successful twice over fences and ran well when finishing 1L second over 2m4f at Huntingdon (good-to-soft) last time out. Drop in trip and class appeared to suit on that occasion and this looks tougher.

Form: 05-2482

Capard King^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 119| D

7/2

Finished a good third over 3m at Ludlow (good-to-soft) in January and still held chances when coming down over the same C&D next time out. Disappointing of late and handicap mark is falling as a result.

Form: P3U0-06

Mister Don^p⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 115| CD

11/2

Finished runner-up on three consecutive starts prior to finishing eighth over 3m5f at Sedgefield (good) last month. Races off a mark 2lb lower than when runner-up at Market Rasen prior to that and stable can boast a 44% strike-rate (4/9) of late.

Form: 532228

Forecasts

Alvarado (5/2), A Good Skin (11/4), Capard King (7/2), Mister Don (11/2), Some Are Lucky (8/1), Royale Knight (16/1), Mercers Court (25/1)

The veteran ALVARADO showed he retains plenty of ability when finishing third on his seasonal debut and he can take this competitive staying handicap chase off the same mark today. The selection represents a stable with a 20% strike-rate (4/20) in recent weeks and he is taken to notch a sixth career success at the chief expense of bottom weight Mister Don who had been in good form prior to disappointing last time. Royale Knight stays this trip well and can return to form by claiming third today.