15:35 Warwick

Saturday 13 January 2018

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:05

Betfred Classic Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 7m 41.20s

Ptit Zig²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Unknown| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 139| C

20/1

Non-runner

Form: 62-8430

Carole's Destrier⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Unknown| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 135| D

12/1

Non-runner

Form: 1P0/29-8

Charmix¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Unknown| T: G Elliott| OR: 125

16/1

Non-runner

Form: 32-704U

Missed Approach^p⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 139

9/2

A regular in top-class staying events, second in the NH Chase at the Festival last year and ran respectably in the Ladbrokes Trophy on final start. Drying ground will help his cause, handicapper offers a hand and his class should get him involved.

Form: 3U28-P6

Sir Mangan⁵⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 138

8/1

Likely this has been his target this year, handicapper not been harsh after latest Bangor win in November and comes here fresher than most. Needs to prove he stays this far, but ground no issue and not easy to discount.

Form: 25/1-521

Goodtoknow^b³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 138

18/1

Quite highly tried last year but now only 1lb higher than when ploughing through the Hereford mud last February to win with a bit in hand. Second in this last year too, and chances if he can refind best form.

Form: 21P0-UP

Mysteree⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: R T Dunne| T: M Scudamore| OR: 124

16/1

Non-runner

Form: 8/1P12-P

Cogry^p⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 138| C

14/1

Can make mistakes but jumped much better when successful at Cheltenham in October, beating a well-handicapped one. Outclassed in the Ladbrokes Trophy last time but this a more suitable test, with ground no issue. Chance with a clear round.

Form: 3622-1P

Cresswell Breeze^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: S Bowen| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 137

6/1

Stays very well and lost no caste in defeat at Sandown last time, only giving best very late on. Possible that this grade will find her out though (never won in it) and looks high enough in the handicap now too.

Form: 5298-13

Crosspark⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Miss Gina Andrews⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 136| BF

14/1

Not the biggest but tries hard, and worth a go at a marathon trip based on some of his efforts. Latest start best forgiven as he clearly wasn't right, ground no issue and may run well for a long way here. If stamina holds out, has a chance.

Form: 2U13-4P

Kansas City Chief¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Unknown| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 120

16/1

Non-runner

Form: 18-2755

Milansbar^b1⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Bryony Frost⁽⁵⁾| T: N B King| OR: 134

12/1

Nicely handicapped on the best of his form, looked to be on the way back with a better effort at Chepstow two starts back but never went a step in the Welsh National last week. Quick turnaround, always capable but needs plenty of driving.

Form: PPP-63U

Emperor's Choice^p⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-4| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 131| D

12/1

Took advantage of a falling handicap mark to score in atrocious ground at Haydock at the end of December before an early casualty in the Welsh National last week. Stays all day in bad ground but might need a bit more now new mark has kicked in.

Form: P5P-31F

Ballycross^p1³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Mr Zac Baker⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 131

9/1

Pulled up in this last year when quietly fancied, efforts since then mixed but did run well here in October and looks ready for another crack at a marathon. Cheekpieces go on, which should help, and he's one of the more interesting ones.

Form: 3P0-3P4

Topper Thornton³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 131

18/1

Stays well and was spotted travelling nicely in rear at Sandown last time, looked a threat at one stage but never quite got there. Acts on most ground, probably a little outclassed here but a good run wouldn't be the biggest shock.

Form: 039-825

On The Road^t⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 130

16/1

Was fancied to run a good race in the Welsh National last week but unseated his rider early. No issue with the ground, however bad it gets, but still to prove this trip is really what he wants. On that, others preferred.

Form: 2111-2U

Krackatoa King^v¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 127| BF| C

5/1

Eats mud pies for breakfast, so any more rain in his favour, continued in very good form at Wincanton on latest start, touched off on the nod. Still looks on a fair mark given his exploits and every chance from a nice weight.

Form: 331-212

Indian Castle^v1⁵⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams| OR: 127

9/1

No doubting how well handicapped he is on the best of his form, but that's been the case for some time now and you've got to go back to 2014 to find the last time he won one. A slog in the mud possibly not ideal either, and others preferred.

Form: P56/2-26

Russe Blanc^p¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 9-12| J: C Poste| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 125| CD

25/1

Winner of this from a 2lb higher mark back in 2016, so no problems from a handicapping point of view, but you'd have liked to have seen a bit more encouragement on latest start (well beaten). Has a chance, but comes with risks now.

Form: 2P5-4U4

Itstimeforapint^t⁷⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-5| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 118

25/1

Close third in the North Yorkshire handicap last year but only seen twice since then, so has perhaps had issues. Stays fine but may require better ground, and isn't really up to this class, so not hard to look elsewhere for the winner.

Form: 5323P-6

Forecasts

Missed Approach (9/2), Krackatoa King (5/1), Cresswell Breeze (6/1), Sir Mangan (8/1), Indian Castle (9/1), Ballycross (9/1), Milansbar (12/1), Carole's Destrier (12/1), Emperor's Choice (12/1), Cogry (14/1), Crosspark (14/1), Mysteree (16/1), Kansas City Chief (16/1), Charmix (16/1), On The Road (16/1), Topper Thornton (18/1), Goodtoknow (18/1), Ptit Zig (20/1), Russe Blanc (25/1), Itstimeforapint (25/1)

Lots of your old staying favourites line up, and a few take their chances after failing to complete in the Welsh National last week. Of those, On The Road makes some appeal as one that might improve, but he does need to fully show this trip is what he wants. SIR MANGAN is another that has to prove his stamina for this, but he remains unexposed at staying trips and looks to have been lined up for a crack at this. In the hope his stamina lasts out, he's the pick. You can give any number a chance for the places on going days - Topper Thornton , Krackatoa King and top weight Missed Approach make the most appeal.