'Ubique' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 14.55s

Movie Legend^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Aspell| T: L Wadham| OR: 128| D

13/2

Won at both Fakenham and Wetherby over 1m7f in the autumn, including on soft. 4lb higher than the best of those today and has remained reasonably competitive in better company since. Should give a good account.

Form: 1-31146

Ubaltique^b,t²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 126| D

7/4

2m and soft/heavy ground is ideal for this six-time chase winner who has been back in form this season with two wins at Haydock. 2lb higher than his best chase win today, but has won from higher over hurdles, so hat-trick may not be beyond him.

Form: P-P5311

Tara Bridge¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 120| D

1/1

Has returned from a break in good form this season, going close over hurdles at Plumpton and then winning by 13L in a Lingfield handicap chase (2m, heavy) last time. Up 7lb for that and in better company here, but entitled to respect.

Form: 63F1-21

Un Beau Roman^h⁵⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson| OR: 120| D

10/1

Scored last season from an 8lb higher mark, but unable to produce anything as good as that this term. Ran well enough from 6lb higher at Cheltenham in November, but even a repeat of that would give him no guarantees here. Up against it.

Form: 6-P5058

Forecasts

Tara Bridge (1/1), Ubaltique (7/4), Movie Legend (13/2), Un Beau Roman (10/1)

A good contest in prospect despite the small field and UBALTIQUE may be good enough to complete a hat-trick, despite this not being at Haydock and his mark suggesting that he may need a career-best to do the job. Movie Legend should appreciate the slight ease in the handicap and also in grade and is far from ruled out, while Tara Bridge, who produced a very good effort in a lower grade last time, is also very much respected in opposition.