14:05 Haydock

Saturday 31 March 2018

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Smarkets Challenger Middle Distance Chase Series Final Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 5m 25.70s

Crievehill²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 138| D

11/4

Winning for the second time over fences when coming home 20L clear of his rivals at Sandown (2m4f, soft) earlier this month. Has to defy a 9lb rise in the weights today.

Form: 132421

Creep Desbois⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 131

4/1

Fakenham handicap chase winner over 2m5f in December and just touched off when attempting to follow up at Leicester (2m4f, soft) last time out. One for the shortlist today.

Form: 13-0512

Orbasa^b¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 128| D

5/1

Good efforts in defeat since winning at Wincanton (2m4f, good) in October including when finishing fourth at Kempton (soft) last time out. Vulnerable to better handicapped rivals.

Form: 164454

Twenty Eight Guns^p,t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: M Scudamore| OR: 124| D

10/1

Wore a tongue tie (retained since) for the first time when winning over 2m5f at Fakenham (soft) last month. Struggled over the same C&D last time and more needed today.

Form: P4U514

Aloomomo^b²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 121| BF| D

7/1

Well held when finishing runner-up to Crievehill at Sandown (2m4f, soft) in first time blinkers (retained) last time out. Others have a more obvious chance today.

Form: F-32PP2

Native Robin⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 117| D

14/1

Winner of half of his eight chase starts including over an extended 2m3f at Fontwell (heavy) in January. Failed to shine in a four runner contest at Wincanton (2m4f, heavy) next time but interesting if putting that effort behind him.

Form: P-94114

Masterplan^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 116| D

14/1

Finished runner-up on his first two starts this season but held twice since including when finishing behind a couple of today's rivals at Sandown (2m4f, soft) last time out. Others have a more obvious chance today.

Form: 61-2253

Amber Gambler⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 112

8/1

Successful three times over fences last season but struggled this time around. Drop back in trip should suit having finished well beaten on soft ground over 3m at Doncaster last time.

Form: 11P-645

Forecasts

Crievehill (11/4), Creep Desbois (4/1), Orbasa (5/1), Aloomomo (7/1), Amber Gambler (8/1), Twenty Eight Guns (10/1), Masterplan (14/1), Native Robin (14/1)

CRIEVEHILL impressed when winning at Sandown last time out and he can register his third victory in this opening 2m4f handicap chase. Nigel Twiston_Davies charge ran well here prior to that and can see off Creep Desbois who can finish runner-up for the second consecutive start today. Twenty Eight Guns and put a disappointing effort last time out behind her by finishing third on this occasion.