Racegoers Club 50th Anniversary Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:26 | Winning time: 4m 15.22s

Wisty⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: M Todhunter| OR: 135| BF| CD

7/4

Four-time C&D winner who loves to go from the front and is suited by this sharp track and should get an uncontested lead in this. Paid for his aggression last time when getting caught up in a pace war; features in a better scenario this time.

Form: 1117P-8

Oliver's Gold²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Miss E Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 129| CD

4/1

C&D form reads 1232 and 2nd (to Wisty) in this race last year (beaten 6L; 10lb better off). Back to his last winning mark (123) when winning at Southwell in May and finished in front of Wisty last run (2nd; got run of race); not quite as good since.

Form: 6-312U4

Raise A Spark^h⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 123| C| D

11/8

Useful over hurdles he looks as though he can be as good in this sphere judged on his debut effort over 2m5f here (2nd has won since). Travelled and jumped well and should be able to cope with a shorter trip off a likely strong pace; nicely weighted.

Form: 34/F6-41

Nicolas Chauvin^p1²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: R Johnson| T: James Moffatt| OR: 120| D

8/1

The fact that the handicapper had given him a chance and he was suited by the way the race unfolded saw him win at Wetherby in October. Not in any form of late and finished 4th in this last year off 5lb higher.

Form: 4136-78

Forecasts

Raise A Spark (11/8), Wisty (7/4), Oliver's Gold (4/1), Nicolas Chauvin (8/1)

A fascinating little heat with three of last year’s runners meeting again in a scenario that should suit WISTY who got embroiled in a pace duel last time that saw him run poorly (Oliver’s Gold suited by the run of the race to finish 2nd); he should get a soft lead this time. Oliver’s Gold is 10lb better off for his beating last year and does have that good run to his name here this year but he was very much suited by the run of the race and he has looked a little below-par of late. Raise A Spark is the main danger having looked to enjoy his chasing debut over a longer trip here and still looks nicely weighted on his hurdles form if he can cope with the shorter trip.