Molson Coors Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:41 | Winning time: 6m 56.3s

Lip Service^h,t³³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 121| BF

6/1

Won over fences in Ireland in 2016 (2m6f, good). Has put in two respectable efforts over hurdles since joining this yard, punctuated by wind surgery and could improve now back over fences and upped in trip.

Form: 2/126-45

Cyclop^p,t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Teal⁽⁷⁾| T: David Dennis| OR: 119| C| D

6/1

Goes into this 2lb higher than when winning the Lincolnshire National (3m3½f, soft) here on Boxing Day. Has largely been campaigned over further than this in the past year and whether this will be enough of a stamina test remains to be seen.

Form: 82154P

Shockingtimes^b,t²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 118| D

3/1

Has had some jumping issues and slipped in the weights as a result but showed that he retains his ability granted a clear round when scoring by 7L at Haydock (2m7f, soft) last month. Back up 7lb for that but will be competitive if he jumps round.

Form: P/FR2U1

Thedrinkymeister^p³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 118| D

10/3

Remains 4lb higher than his last win which was at Wetherby (3m, good to soft) 14-months ago. Repeated that effort at Bangor in January (3m, heavy) and has a squeak at these weights if back to his best for a change of scenery.

Form: 14-F227

Russborough^p²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 115

15/2

4lb lower today than when recording his last success over three years ago. Best form has been over shorter trips than this. Handles soft ground but despite a 2lb drop today, he will need to improve on what we have seen this season to win again.

Form: 3P/4-254

Milly Baloo¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Cook| T: T D Easterby| OR: 112| C

9/2

Rarely runs a bad race at this track and went well in a better contest at Haydock last time out. From the same mark, back in this grade and at this venue, she enters calculations.

Form: 13-2R24

Square Viviani^p1²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 110

16/1

Multiple French chase winner over shorter trips. Not a bad effort on stable/British debut at Catterick (1m7½f, soft) last month, though not as good at Wetherby (2m5½f, heavy) last time. 3lb drop here, cheekpieces fitted and has a squeak.

Form: 3FP443

Forecasts

Shockingtimes (3/1), Thedrinkymeister (10/3), Milly Baloo (9/2), Lip Service (6/1), Cyclop (6/1), Russborough (15/2), Square Viviani (16/1)

Square Viviani is interesting here given that his best effort in France was over a similar sort of trip, he handles these conditions and he is both dropped in the ratings and sports first-time cheekpieces. A better effort would not surprise although he bumps into SHOCKINGTIMES today. Jamie Snowden's gelding jumped much better again last time at Haydock and now back on song he looks capable of winning again from this mark. Lip Service and Milly Baloo could both have a say, while Thedrinkymeister could also make an impact if rejuvenated after a change of stables.