January Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 6m 20.9s

Actinpieces²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Gina Andrews⁽³⁾| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 139| D

3/1

Has two wins each at Catterick, Fakenham and Wetherby, so yet to score going right-handed. Stays 3m1f on soft ground, so conditions and trip no problem and went very close from this mark last time. Claims.

Form: 3F-1284

Aubusson⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Chester Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 135| D

7/2

Goes well with cut in the ground and more rain would be welcomed. Now over two years since last win, during which time the handicapper has been in control. Has ability to get involved off this mark but needs to improve on previous runs this season.

Form: 8604-37

Sego Success^v³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 135| D

5/1

Disappointed when beaten 35L at Doncaster last month, having looked primed and ready to repeat a prevous win going into it. 1lb drop won't make much difference unless he is able to perform to his ability, which is not ruled out.

Form: 4P5F-27

Local Show²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: James Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 132| D

16/1

3m and soft ground is ideal for this dual chase winner, so any further rain would boost his chance. However, he is yet to win a handicap over fences after two novices' successes caught the eye of the handicapper. Has a bit to prove.

Form: 17/P8P-6

Champagne At Tara²¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 132

11/2

Handles cut in the ground and stays 2m5½f, though yet to win beyond 2m1f. Well held over 3m1f when last seen in June, but on a handy mark if he can get home and pedigree suggests that he should be capable of doing so. Claims.

Form: 31P3-34

Mystical Knight^t³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 131| D

4/1

Stays 3m1f on soft ground as he did when scoring at Hereford in a novices' chase last season. Has been unable to add to that, though not a bad effort last time and a 3lb drop since then should bring him into this.

Form: P/1P36-3

Ravished^t⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 127| D

14/1

Won three chases in Ireland from 2m6f-3m1f and handles cut in the ground. Doesn't look to have been easy to keep sound in recent seasons, but on a competitive mark if he can get back to something like his Irish form after a pipe-opener last month.

Form: P52/90-5

Forecasts

Actinpieces (3/1), Aubusson (7/2), Mystical Knight (4/1), Sego Success (5/1), Champagne At Tara (11/2), Ravished (14/1), Local Show (16/1)

Admirable mare ACTINPIECES can win this way around for the first time after another really good effort from this mark at Wetherby last time. Pam Sly's seven-year-old can make the odd mistake, but she generally jumps with enthusiasm and these fences are a little more forgiving. Champagne At Tara has yet to convince over this trip, but he is bred to get it and could emerge as a danger along with Sego Success, who has a bit to prove today and Mystical Knight.