15:10 Wincanton

Thursday 8 March 2018

All14:1014:4015:1015:4516:1516:5017:20

Smarkets Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 7m 8.50s

Vieux Lille⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 126| C

7/2

Has only seen the racecourse twice in the past year, being well held from higher marks on both occasions. Now 5lb lower and in a weaker race than last time, so a revival is possible with both conditions and trip no problem.

Form: 324P-64

Muffins For Tea^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Brennan| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 125

11/2

Put up easily his best chase performance to score by 6L in a Taunton novices' handicap chase (2m7f, soft) last time under this pilot. Raised 6lb for that, which is fair and has to be taken seriously again given that he is unexposed over this trip.

Form: 133F31

Two Smokin Barrels²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: T Scudamore| T: M Scudamore| OR: 124| BF

4/1

Was well placed/improved last season to win 4-5 at one stage, but handicapper then took her measure. Back to form at Leicester last time when beaten just a neck from today's mark. Stays 3m and acts on soft ground, so not ruled out.

Form: 6-92F32

Kap Jazz¹¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 122| BF| C

12/1

Was in good form this time last year, winning at both Carlisle and Ludlow over 2m4f. Was runner-up (beaten 2L) from this mark when last seen at Market Rasen in November, goes well fresh and still arguably unexposed over this far. Interesting.

Form: F113-02

Domingo^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 121

16/1

Won over 2m5½f (soft) in France in October before joining current stable, for whom he ran well for a long way at Ffos Las last month (3m, heavy). Probably capable of better, though market may be our best guide until we have seen more from him.

Form: 2F2-316

Thedrinkymeister^v³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 119

12/1

Has the profile of a spring horse. Has won in each of the past two years at Wetherby, including on soft/over 3m. Remains 5lb higher than the latest of those 13-onths ago and still just looks a little too high in the handicap to win. Place claims.

Form: P14-F22

Crank Em Up^b⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 113| BF| CD

9/2

Scored over C&D (heavy) in January when 7lb lower. Could repeat that from today's mark at Uttoxeter last time, but ran to a similar level to be a 6L runner-up. Looks exposed and in need of a career-best to win again today, but is respected.

Form: 5-53P12

Saroque¹¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 110

22/1

Has conditions to suit and looks well treated on his old form, but has been on the slide for some time. Has not been on a mark as low as this since 2012 and there wasn't huge hope of a revival from November's reappearance.

Form: 35223-7

Fight Commander^p⁹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 106| BF

7/1

Sole win was over two years ago at Huntingdon (beat Kap Jazz 6L on 14lb worse terms). Beaten just 1L from 4lb higher at Fontwell (3m1½f, soft) a year ago and if back to that level he would go close, though he has that to prove.

Form: P8P2-43

Forecasts

Vieux Lille (7/2), Two Smokin Barrels (4/1), Crank Em Up (9/2), Muffins For Tea (11/2), Fight Commander (7/1), Thedrinkymeister (12/1), Kap Jazz (12/1), Domingo (16/1), Saroque (22/1)

Plenty in with chances here if they are able to produce their best form and the one who at least arrives here doing so is MUFFINS FOR TEA, who gets the vote. He won with a little bit to spare last time and there could be improvement in him over these longer trips. Vieux Lille has an opportunity to get back to form from this mark, while Kap Jazz can go well after a break, which he has had coming into this. Others with a squeak of picking up prize money are Two Smokin Barrels, Thedrinkymeister, Crank Em Up and Flight Commander.