Betfred 'Treble Odds On Lucky 15's' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 4.85s

Top Gamble^t³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 152| BF| D

10/3

Contesting Grade 1 contests for much of 2017, including when finishing a good fourth in Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival over this trip. Ran well back there on New Year's Day (2m5f, heavy) to be fourth. Drops 2lb and back over optimal trip.

Form: 346-P24

Gino Trail^p²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 148| D

7/2

Back to form this season with wins at Wetherby (1m7f, soft) and then Cheltenham (2½f, soft) before a good effort behind an improver over C&D last month. Should be competitive from the same mark, one of two for trainer in line-up.

Form: 16-3112

Dolos^t⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 144| D

7/2

Emphatic start to chasing career when scoring by 29L in a Beginners Chase (2m3f, good to soft) at Ascot in November. Eased down in Grade 1 Novices' Chase over longer trip there before Christmas. May bounce back over shorter trip.

Form: 12-2013

Cepage⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 140| D

7/2

Made impressive debut for this yard with Newbury success in December 2016, before faltering last term. Positive reappearance when ½L second to Sir Valentino at Ascot (2m1f, good to soft) in November and raised the minimum for that effort.

Form: 41F33-2

Somchine^t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁷⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 130| D

20/1

Useful chaser on his day, came good last spring when winning at Hereford (2m, soft) and then a good third to Vaniteux at Ayr. Yet to find form this season and the handicapper is slow to release his grip. Well held at Warwick last month again.

Form: U13-8P5

Big Jim²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A M Hales| OR: 124| D

5/1

Bold front-running sort at his best, landed Warwick win last month over 2m on soft ground in typical fashion (Somchine well held in fifth). Career-best may be needed to follow-up, though booking of Sam Twiston-Davies won't do any harm.

Form: 2P1/6-51

Forecasts

Top Gamble (10/3), Gino Trail (7/2), Dolos (7/2), Cepage (7/2), Big Jim (5/1), Somchine (20/1)

Cepage is much-respected after showing he retains all his ability with a fine second to Sir Valentino at Ascot in November after a long layoff. Conditions should suit here and he's entitled to launch a bid having gone up just 1lb. Big Jim will look to set the pace in front and jumped very well to win last month at Warwick, he's worth a glance in the betting with a positive jockey booking. Kerry Lee won this a year ago may have the answer again with TOP GAMBLE. He ran well under this rider at Cheltenham on New Year's Day over a trip longer than ideal and gets 2lb relief now for this drop in trip/class. Stablemate Gino Trail is also respected but may not get his way in front with Big Jim around and that could be detrimental for both.