Elliot Henderson & Son Plant Hire Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 5m 55.58s

Always Tipsy¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 110| C

10/1

Lacked fluency when beaten off this mark over 2m5f+ here earlier in the month (good), but had previously beaten the tenderly handled Beau Sancy by 1L off a 5lb lower mark (heavy). Handles good to firm ground as shown at Perth (May 2016).

Form: 51UP1-6

Chu Chu Percy^p⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: A C Whillans| OR: 110

5/1

The winning run came to a rather abrupt end at Ayr in March (3m+ soft), so this previously improving seven-year-old needs to recapture his earlier level of form. Mark probably still just about workable, but conditions are the unknown.

Form: 75/211P-

Crest^p,t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 108

10/3

Wind surgery has seemingly helped him to recapture his form, and he remains very well treated off his current mark. Bumped into one when beaten 7L by course specialist Apache Pilot at Hexham a fortnight ago (3m good). Short-list material.

Form: P756-42

An Laoch^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 108

5/1

Point-to-point winner who remains a maiden under rules, but did show glimmers of promise over fences early last season (on good ground). Poor latest, but this up and coming rider tends to do well when linking up with these connections.

Form: 222P37-

Romulus Du Donjon¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 107| BF

8/1

Largely consistent, but has seen plenty of racing over the past few months and the handicapper just about has his measure, as appeared to be the case when finishing just under 18L fourth to Free Range here latest (2m5f+).

Form: 45323-4

Classical Milano¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 106| D

5/1

Out of sorts since winning a 3m maiden hurdle at Hexham in April 2017 (good), but slightly better on just his second chasing start over 3m2f here recently (fourth); form which could be franked by Amilliontimes in the previous race.

Form: 41/P8P-4

Uluroo³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 102

3/1

Beaten 5L by Champagne City in the novices hurdle on this card in 2017, but has been pointing for Sam Curling in Ireland since; a fortunate winner at Largy latest (3m). Back with Pauline Robson now for handicap/rules chasing debut.

Form: 45/6231-

Forecasts

Uluroo (3/1), Crest (10/3), Classical Milano (5/1), Chu Chu Percy (5/1), An Laoch (5/1), Romulus Du Donjon (8/1), Always Tipsy (10/1)

Not a race for forming a strong viewpoint, but the overriding opinion is that CREST ought to be capable of winning sooner rather than later off this most attractive mark following seemingly successful wind surgery. He bumped into a returned to form Hexham standing dish (Apache Pilot) when fairly strong in the market latest, and he's the safest option here with the unexposed (over fences) Classical Milano rating as a possible threat.