Smarkets Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 48.9s

Casper King¹³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 125WS

14/1

Winner of three races over hurdles, but only outing over fences saw him pull up in a decent novices' handicap chase at Kempton in November. Has been given time to recovery from that and has undergone wind surgery.

Form: 1194-5P

Some Are Lucky^p⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr N George⁽⁷⁾| T: T R George| OR: 124| D

6/4

Bounced back to form and opened his account over fences when clear winner of a three-runner novices' handicap at Leicester. Might have been flattered by that, but has been left alone by the handicapper and has to be respected.

Form: 20-28P1

Little Jon^p³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 123| D

6/1

Fair performer in his prime and although he has not been at his best of late he has shown enough to suggest a return to winning ways is not out of the question off his current handicap mark.

Form: 5P-555P

Somchine¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: A Thornton| T: J W Mullins| OR: 122| CD

6/1

Six wins from 26 starts over fences, but has not shown anything like his best this season and handicap mark has dropped accordingly. Dangerous to write off given his current rating and hint of a revival last time.

Form: 3-8P553

Bramble Brook^p1,t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 121| D

6/1

Won a three-runner Fontwell handicap last month, but went up 6lb and was tailed off at Hereford in his bid to follow up. He is better than that and may have more to offer in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 231316

City Supreme^t¹⁰⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: N D Fehily| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 119| D

4/1

Only one win from 18 runs over hurdles, but is 1-3 over fences and returned from a long absence to finish fourth of seven at Plumpton in December. Should strip fitter and has a positive jockey booking.

Form: 42148-4

Non-Runners

Vivaccio³⁴

Weight: 11-2| Age: 9

T: Miss V Williams J: Aidan Coleman

Forecasts

Some Are Lucky (6/4), City Supreme (4/1), Somchine (6/1), Little Jon (6/1), Bramble Brook (6/1), Vivaccio (10/1), Casper King (14/1)

Casper King is a talented horse who is of interest on his return following wind surgery, while cases can be made for Bramble Brook, Some Are Lucky, Somchine and Vivaccio. However, the two to fight it out may be Little Jon, who is well handicapped and has been hinting at a return to form, and CITY SUPREME. The latter is unexposed over fences and can be competitive off this mark under his top-class jockey.