15:10 Perth

Wednesday 25 April 2018

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:45

Phil Nelson Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 6m 20.20s

Allysson Monterg^t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 137

3/1

Winner of an Exeter novice contest (2m3f, heavy) in February on chasing bow and another promising effort at Uttoxeter (2m4f, heavy) this month when third despite an odd mistake. Forgiven RSA Chase flop in between those runs.

Form: 16/7-1P3

Seldom Inn¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: D R Fox| T: A M Thomson| OR: 135

11/1

Recorded a pair of wins at Kelso last season and generally tends to reserve his best efforts for that track. Worryingly, he was poor there twice in recent months and gets a watching brief now as a consequence.

Form: P-53235

Charmix⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 135| D

22/1

A talented performer once upon a time for Harry Fry, but yet to fully convince over fences, was already well beaten when coming down at Kelso in February and has left Gordon Elliott for this trainer since.

Form: 704U8F

Brandon Hill³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr N George⁽⁷⁾| T: T R George| OR: 134| DWS

4/1

Promising chaser with two wins for Tom Lacey last season over this sort of trip. Consistent this term without winning, he had a rare off-day at Kempton last month when dropped in trip and should be able to bounce back again.

Form: 14-2320

Ballyben^p⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 133| CD

20/1

Useful chaser with five wins from 23 starts, most recently scoring with ease over C&D (heavy) in September. Has been poor in couple of starts since (one over hurdles) and rated 9lb higher now but wouldn't be one to dismiss back here.

Form: 207-177

Chidswell²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Craig Nichol| T: N G Richards| OR: 128| BF

9/2

Doesn't have a lot of miles on the clock for a nine-year-old and generally tends to be reliable in this sort of company. Eased by the assessor and likely to stick on when others are done, place claims.

Form: 5-22333

Samstown¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Henry Brooke| T: A C Whillans| OR: 128| CD

12/1

Grade 2 handicap chase winner at Haydock (3m, heavy) in January 2015, had undergone wind surgery prior to retuning from near three-year absence at Kelso this month. Positively ridden but faded and pulled up there, hard to be confident now.

Form: 81P6P/P

Belmount^p¹¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128| D

25/1

Won a 3m2f hurdle on heavy in 2015, no issues with trip/going. Of more concern is recent form for, after winning a Warwick handicap chase in September, he has failed to complete in three most recent starts. Yet to win in cheekpieces.

Form: 416FPP

As De Pique^t⁸⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 10-12| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 123| D

14/1

A teenager now and plenty signs he's slowing down with figures of FUPF on his record this season alongside a 31L defeat at Punchestown in January when last spotted. Hard to fancy on that form.

Form: 8-FUPF4

Jet Master^h,t¹⁰¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-12| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 123| C

12/1

Four-time course winner (all hurdles) tends to like this place. Finished ¾L third in this contest 12 months ago and rated 3lb lower now. In decent form prior to a short break and should mount a bid for this.

Form: 516463

Uhlan Bute^p¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 123| D

8/1

Took advantage of bottom-weight to score at Ludlow (3m, good to soft) earlier in the month, ending a winless sequence that dated back to 2015. Yard in fair form and not out of this if turning up in similar mood.

Form: 4U-3641

Forecasts

Allysson Monterg (3/1), Brandon Hill (4/1), Chidswell (9/2), Uhlan Bute (8/1), Seldom Inn (11/1), Samstown (12/1), Jet Master (12/1), As De Pique (14/1), Ballyben (20/1), Charmix (22/1), Belmount (25/1)

Uhlan Bute was a fair winner at Ludlow recently but faces a tougher task now upped 9lb for his troubles. Allysson Monterg should have more to give in this sphere and can win races while Brandon Hill is likely to bounce back up in distance after a rare off-day at Kempton last time. JET MASTER is something of a specialist here at Perth and the four-time course winner is now 3lb better off than when just failing (third) in this contest last year. He's fancied having been in good tune prior to a short layoff.