15:05 Wetherby

Thursday 29 March 2018

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1516:4517:15

Sixt Rent A Car Drive Smug Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 4m 2.75s

Caraline^p,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-3| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 122| C

6/1

Goes well here and scored over 2m3½f (soft) on Boxing Day by 9L from 8lb lower. Another good effort over C&D (heavy) from just 2lb lower in a better race than this two starts ago and has claims if you can forgive her last run.

Form: F-41323

Applaus^p³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 117| C

11/1

Won a bumper here two seasons ago (soft) and is at his best at around this trip. Out of sorts at Newcastle last time, but best two chase efforts came just before that and looks to be on a handy mark if he can get back to that form.

Form: 41-P234

Lake Field^t1³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 115| BF

4/1

Has been in good form this term, scoring at both Newbury (2m½f, soft) and Catterick (1m7½f) in December and not far off that level twice since. Tongue strap could help and looks well worth short-listing with 1lb drop to help.

Form: 0-21136

Casual Cavalier^p⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: G Bewley| OR: 109| BF

8/1

Won three chases last season at around this trip on good to soft/soft. Consistent performer who is now 1lb below his last win and looks to have frame claims at the very least.

Form: 123-324

Uno Valoroso²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 109| BF

8/1

Yet to win here but has run well in defeat at the track. 2m/soft ground are probably his optimum racing conditions and at just 2lb higher than when scoring at Bangor in December, he is another who should be thereabouts.

Form: 512332

Roxyfet⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 105| BF

15/2

Has been enjoying another good season, winning at Sedgefield (2m½f, soft) and Market Rasen (2m1f, soft), the latter earlier this month from 7lb lower. Has looked held in two starts since, however, and needs to eek out more here.

Form: 122155

Glance Back^t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: Mrs E Bishop| OR: 100

7/2

Has left is hurdles form well behind in two runs over fences, making the frame at Leicester and then returning there to win (2m, soft) last time from 4lb lower. Very early days for him and therefore open to improvement. Short-listed.

Form: 067-931

Pembroke House^b1²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-1| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: S-J Davies| OR: 92

7/1

Has not won since December 2015 when 8lb higher. Has run plenty of decent races in defeat since then, but clearly not the easiest to win with and cheek pieces now swapped for blinkers. Not ruled out if they can galvanise him to a better effort.

Form: 352523

Forecasts

Glance Back (7/2), Lake Field (4/1), Caraline (6/1), Pembroke House (7/1), Roxyfet (15/2), Uno Valoroso (8/1), Casual Cavalier (8/1), Applaus (11/1)

Caraline should be capable of making an impact again at this level and goes well at the track so she is very much respected. However, preference is for LAKE FIELD, who may benefit from the fitting of a tongue strap and also has strong enough form to suggest that he can score from this mark in this line-up. Applaus is also shorted-listed, while there are a number of runners with frame claims, with the one making more appeal than most being Leicester winner Glance Back.