Matchbook Betting Podcast Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 6m 18.20s

Sir Ivan^t⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: N P Madden| T: H Fry| OR: 139| D

10/1

Has appeared to struggle with a revised handicap mark the last twice, and though this is easier than those races he probably still needs some help from the assessor before returning to winning ways.

Form: 3F-113P

Ask The Weatherman^p³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| OR: 138| D

5/1

Outclassed in the Welsh National last time out but previously won a similar race to this at Exeter. 6lb higher now but will appreciate the return to this level of competition.

Form: 1171-1P

Brandon Hill⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 133| BF| D

11/4

Third over C&D last time out having improved to this level of competition recently. On the same mark now and a repetition of that level of form would see him go very close.

Form: 6114-23

Bigbadjohn⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 133| D

5/2

Outclassed in tougher races than this recently but managed to win a Grade 2 at Ascot around a year ago and this is probably the easiest race he has run in since then.

Form: 1P-U708

Champagne At Tara²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Geraghty| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 132

16/1

Just the one win over fences and that came over 2m; left with something to prove over this trip and jumped poorly last time out.

Form: 1P3-34U

Sandy Beach^p1,t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 123

12/1

Placed on only previous visit here and starting to look dangerously handicapped but still needs to improve on recent efforts at Taunton.

Form: 0/13P-73

Bugsie Malone^p1⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 115| CD

9/2

The only course winner in the field, but that came in a weaker race than this and he hasn't been running well enough recently to enter calculations for this. Cheek pieces on.

Form: 22-2F4P

Forecasts

Bigbadjohn (5/2), Brandon Hill (11/4), Bugsie Malone (9/2), Ask The Weatherman (5/1), Sir Ivan (10/1), Sandy Beach (12/1), Champagne At Tara (16/1)

Brandon Hill was third over C&D last time and holds major claims on that form but perhaps ASK THE WEATHERMAN can take advantage of this drop in class. He found a Grade 3 at Cheltenham last time too hot and is worth another chance off this higher handicap mark now returning to a more appropriate level of competition. Bigbadjohn was winning at Grade 2 level a year ago and is another who make do better in an easier race than his recent assignments.