17:05 Market Rasen

Sunday 22 April 2018

All14:2515:0015:3016:0016:3517:0517:40

Call Star Spreads On 00353 1884 8114 Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 6m 19.10s

Gonalston Cloud^p²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: N Kent| OR: 129| C| D

4/1

Stays 4m1f and won Lincolnshire National here last season (good to soft). Had dropped to the same mark of 125 when able to score over 3m at Wetherby last time and although he has not won from a mark this high he cannot be ruled out after a 4lb rise.

Form: 20-85P1

Return Flight⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Menzies| OR: 123

14/1

Has not seen much action since winning a Uttoxeter novices' handicap (2m5f, soft) for Dan Skelton in December 2016, having just two more runs for that trainer before a sighter for this stable in a Newcastle jumpers' bumper last month.

Form: 421F-03

Wolf Sword⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 121

7/2

Back to something approaching his best when beaten just over 1L at Carlisle this week. Races from same mark here on better ground (has won on good to soft) and over the longest trip of his career. Stays 2m5f and this is not the stiffest test.

Form: 1P4472

Huff And Puff¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 121

9/2

Despite his veteran status he has shown improved form on his last two starts in winning at both Taunton in March last year and then reappearing successfully at Hereford (2m5f, heavy) 12 days ago. 2lb rise for that all out effort asks for more.

Form: 78/251-1

Until Winning³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr N George⁽⁷⁾| T: T R George| OR: 120| C

5/1

Seems to go on most ground and it was heavy here in January when he won over slightly shorter and from 3lb lower. Matched that in defeat (from higher than today) at Carlisle next time and not disgraced last time at Haydock in desperate conditions.

Form: 67/5125

Mr Shantu^p¹⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 120| C

13/2

Won four times over hurdles at up to 3m2f and sole chase win was over 2m7f at Worcester in 2016. Has slipped to a mark from which he won over hurdles and his latest start at Ludlow in November was not devoid of encouragement.

Form: 5U-6694

Ready Token^t⁷⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 117| CD

10/1

Scored over C&D in 2015 and added two further wins over the trip at Warwick a year later. All wins have been on good/good to soft ground, so conditions suit. Consistency has been a problem but he was going well before being brought down at Ludlow.

Form: 04-8PB6

An Laoch^p1,t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: B S Hughes| T: C Grant| OR: 110| D

8/1

Maiden Irish point-to-point winner who has made the frame in five of his rules starts but is yet to win. Three of those placed efforts have been from this or a 2lb higher mark this season. Stays 3m2f and if cheekpieces work then can't be ruled out.

Form: 5222P3

Forecasts

Wolf Sword (7/2), Gonalston Cloud (4/1), Huff And Puff (9/2), Until Winning (5/1), Mr Shantu (13/2), An Laoch (8/1), Ready Token (10/1), Return Flight (14/1)

This looks potentially competitive for its grade and the veteran HUFF AND PUFF is just given the vote given that he is versatile with regards to conditions, stays well enough and comes here in good form. An Laoch would not be winning out of turn and could be a threat in first-time cheekpieces. Ready Token has the ability to go close but consistency has become an issue, while Gonalston Cloud is not ruled out.