18:35 Stratford

Saturday 9 June 2018

All18:0018:0518:3519:0519:3520:0520:3521:05

BGC Racing Handicap Chase

Off time: 18:35 | Winning time: 4m 40.7s

Roman Flight^v¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: David Dennis| OR: 139| C

11/2

Good sort when on song and he's got a tremendous record at the track (four wins and a place from seven starts). Drops in class after a decent effort at Uttoxeter and every chance from a mark 3lb lower than his last winning one.

Form: 1410/35

Voix D'Eau^p,t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss A B O'Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 137| D

10/3

No doubting he's on a good mark these days, but you do have to go back a couple of years to find the last time he got his head in front. On the plus side, should get this run to suit and it was a better effort last time out at Southwell.

Form: P3650-2

Imperial Presence³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135

11/4

Loves quick ground and bounced off it when making all the running to win at Kempton last time. Worries would be that he's 7lb higher, faces an extra quarter of a mile and may face competition for the lead. On balance, others make more appeal.

Form: 512/52-1

Work In Progress^t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton| OR: 134| D

33/1

Is on too good a handicap mark to dismiss completely, especially as the yard remain in very good form, but does need to turn things around after a couple of dismal efforts last month. Likes small fields and might find this a bit too tough.

Form: 1UU1-P5

Casino Markets³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 129| C

22/1

Good looker but very disappointing in the main, too many poor efforts littering his dancecard and it was much the same at Newton Abbot last time where he gave up the ghost pretty quickly once the pressure was on. Hard to be confident about chances.

Form: 33/070-5

Allelu Alleluia²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 129| CD

4/1

Had always threatened to make a better chaser than hurdler and it was no surprise that (despite a drift in the market) he won easily on chase debut here last month. Should progress, conditions ideal and despite 8lb rise for that, looks a big player.

Form: 012/34-1

Newton Geronimo²⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 128| D

14/1

Has his own ideas about the game at times (has refused in the past) but useful when on song, and did win first time up last year (easy task). No problem with conditions and mark fine, so if jumping off on terms, has some sort of chance.

Form: 5/13646-

Kk Lexion¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 126

9/1

Flatters to deceive too often to be fully trusted these days, but looks on a reasonable mark based on his hurdling exploits and the likely good pace up front here will help his cause no end. Capable, but clearly comes with risks.

Form: 0/3830-4

Workbench^t¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 123| D

18/1

Has been a wonderful servant to the yard over the years and wins his share, is another that will be happier the quicker they go up front (can get outpaced) but recent effort at Uttoxeter suggests others come here with stronger form claims.

Form: 3414-60

Non-Runners

Princeton Royale⁶

Weight: 11-11| Age: 9

T: N B King J: Harry Teal

Forecasts

Imperial Presence (11/4), Voix D'Eau (10/3), Allelu Alleluia (4/1), Princeton Royale (5/1), Roman Flight (11/2), Kk Lexion (9/1), Newton Geronimo (14/1), Workbench (18/1), Casino Markets (22/1), Work In Progress (33/1)

No shortage of pace here, with Princeton Royale and Imperial Presence likely to make this a good test and if they are not careful could end up harming each other's chances. Voix D'Eau will enjoy picking them off on the final circuit and may go close, as might Roman Flight on the return to his favourite track. But ALLELU ALLELUIA was impressive on his chase debut here and there's every chance he'll continue that upward curve.