Scotty Brand Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:16 | Winning time: 4m 12.50s

Double W's¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 133

7/4

Beat Theinval by 1L in the Grade 3 Red Rum Handicap at Aintree in April 2017 (2m good) off a 6lb higher mark to today's, so is undeniably well handicapped on that form. However, disappointing last season and needs to bounce back.

Form: 1P/50-59

Brave Spartacus⁵⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss E Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 133| D

28/1

Sits 7lb above his last winning mark at Cartmel in August 2017 (2m5f good to soft), and that's plenty high enough given his advancing years. Needs to settle better than he's done on his last two starts.

Form: 251P-77

Ifandbutwhynot^t³⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: Henry Brooke| T: T D Easterby| OR: 124| D

9/1

Competitive off similar marks the past twice, including when beaten 6L by Sudski Star at Carlisle in March (2m good to soft); third Pistol Park won since. Leading when unseating his rider at the second last in this race in 2017.

Form: 8/U3424-

Sudski Star^b,t⁴⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: Mrs H O Graham| OR: 122| CD

6/1

Up 6lb for his Carlisle success in March (beat Ifandbutwhynot by 6L), but that's far from a punitive rise. Adores racing at this track on quick ground (2m to 2m2f), so everything in place for a big run.

Form: 16173-1

Applaus^p²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 121

8/1

Hasn't fully got to grips with fences just yet despite leading home the Hammond 1-2-3 on a stellar day at Wetherby in March (1m7f soft). 4lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 2-34133

Chain Of Beacons^t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: K Scott| OR: 112| CD

6/1

Smooth traveller who is best between 2m-2m1f on a sound surface. 6lb above his winning C&D mark in November, but has his quirks and doesn't look quite good enough in this company.

Form: 23/3132-

Oak Vintage¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 110| CD

3/1

Got the better of Oak Vintage by 6L on quick ground at Sedgefield last month (2m good), but is 9lb higher in the weights today in a better race. 31lb higher than when winning by 9L over C&D in November 2017.

Form: 7-131P1

Forecasts

Double W's (7/4), Oak Vintage (3/1), Sudski Star (6/1), Chain Of Beacons (6/1), Applaus (8/1), Ifandbutwhynot (9/1), Brave Spartacus (28/1)

Double W's is essentially far better than these rivals, and with his trainer in excellent form over the past few days with winners at Hexham and Ayr could prove a handicap blot assuming that his recent run (at Ayr) has helped bring him back into shape. However, SUDSKI STAR is in excellent order and with a strong course record on quick ground is confidently expected to once more have the measure of old foe Ifandbutwhynot. The likes of Oak Vintage and Chain Of Beacons are respected, but slightly out of their depth in this contest.