Break From The Herd At Vertem Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:01 | Winning time: 4m 45.80s

Sky Full Of Stars^b⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 96| D

7/2

Beaten 5L by the progressive Bulls Head over hurdles here in February (2m), but equally adept over fences and is a two-time 2m winner on testing ground over the larger obstacles.

Form: 361424

Titian Boy^t⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: N W Alexander| OR: 96

4/1

Not stood all that much racing for his age with both chasing successes coming up at Ayr (2m4f soft). However, was a runner up off a 6lb higher mark over C&D (heavy) in March 2017, and enters the equation on that showing.

Form: 132-844

Little Jimmy^p,t³²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Craig Nichol| T: T R Gretton| OR: 92| D

11/4

Not won in over two years (25/1), but made the frame from similar marks on his last three starts, including at Sedgefield (2m+ heavy) last month when finishing 6½L third to Frankie Ballou (Captain Sharpe second).

Form: 044223

Ballycool^t¹⁶⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 90| D

9/1

Only won once in the past three years (2m4f at Bangor in August 2016). Slipping down the weights, but not seen in competitive action since late October.

Form: 7-46524

Black Kettle^p,t⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Menzies| OR: 90

11/2

Now a 16-race maiden, but is in better form since joining this trainer and having wind surgery. Shown fair form at Sedgefield, but another to have found Frankie Ballou stronger and holds place prospects at best in reality.

Form: 002443

Captain Sharpe^b,t³²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 75| CD

5/1

Made his 100th career start when beaten 3½L by Frankie Ballou at Sedgefield last month (Little Jimmy third), but he's hardly prolific and hasn't won since a Thomas Dowson masterclass at Hexham in May 2017.

Form: 5P6362

Duhallowcountry^b⁵¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 68| D

22/1

Veteran who tends to race at Sedgefield (both successes at that track). Can force the pace, but badly out of sorts for some considerable time and tough to consider from out of the weights as a result.

Form: 767566

Forecasts

Little Jimmy (11/4), Sky Full Of Stars (7/2), Titian Boy (4/1), Captain Sharpe (5/1), Black Kettle (11/2), Ballycool (9/1), Duhallowcountry (22/1)

Not a strong contest, and the majority of these find winning opportunities very easy to pass over. Sky Full Of Stars is no world beater, but he's posted some fair efforts this season, including over hurdles at this track so merits consideration off top-weight. However, this looks a decent opportunity for the sparingly raced TITIAN BOY to record a third career success. His ideal trip is probably 2m4f, but he finished runner up over C&D from a 6lb higher mark in March 2017 (to Halcyon Days), and a reproduction of that level of form will be good enough.