Weatherbys Stallion Book Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 6m 40.9s

Morning Royalty³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: James Moffatt| OR: 136| D

14/1

Useful over both hurdles and fences but looks weighted to the limit just now and needs to be at his very best to cope with top weight on this occasion. No issues with trip or ground, but needs everything to go his way.

Form: 21-1234

Earthmoves^t,v1³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 132

14/1

Capable on his day but has never yet been at his best over 3m plus (pulled up on his last try), so looks opposable on grounds of stamina more than anything.

Form: 119P2P

Straidnahanna⁶⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 130| CD

9/4

Faced a stiff test when pulled up in the Becher Chase last time he was seen in action but this is more realistic and his impressive C&D record (won the 2016 renewal) has to bring him into the thick of the argument. Leading contender.

Form: P0P-65P

Boric^p⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 123

7/2

Won over much further than this at Perth last year and is versatile regarding his favored ground. Decent claims if able to repeat the effort of finishing fourth in the Listed Rehearsal chase at Newcastle in December.

Form: 81-2246

No Planning⁵¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 121| D

7/2

Handles an undulating surface and ought to have no issues with the trip. Better than recent form suggests but has dropped to a handy mark, so there are grounds for a speculative interest.

Form: 268P65

Nortonthorpelegend⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: B S Hughes| T: R Menzies| OR: 114| CD

10/3

Previous C&D winner but recent form has been mixed and needs to dig a little deeper than he has of late. Not too badly handicapped from just 1lb higher than his last win though.

Form: 4P-8428

Forecasts

Straidnahanna (9/4), Nortonthorpelegend (10/3), Boric (7/2), No Planning (7/2), Morning Royalty (14/1), Earthmoves (14/1)

A tricky little contest in which most look evenly matched. However, STRAIDAHANNA, who won this in 2016, seems to pull out something extra at this course and just edges the vote of confidence once more. The selection's stablemate No Planning also appeals as one that is well enough handicapped to suggest he's primed to strike. Boric also appeals as a player at this level when the best of his recent form is taken into account.