16:20 Perth

Wednesday 26 September 2018

All14:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:5017:20

David Whitaker Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 6m 1.10s

Ballyboker Breeze⁵⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 139| CD

4/1

Undone by a mistake at a crucial stage over C&D in July (pulled up), but demonstrated a determined attitude when successful off a 5lb lower mark at Aintree (3m1f, good) in April; handles soft ground; 3-7 over fences.

Form: 217/21P

Double Ross¹⁶⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 137| C| D

4/1

Veteran; pulled up before the last after losing touch from Valentines in the 2018 Grand National at Aintree (heavy); just under 15L fourth of 20 in the 3m2f Kim Muir at Cheltenham (soft) immediately prior.

Form: 4UP84P-

Vaniteux^p¹²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 135

9/2

One-time classy performer for previous trainer Nicky Henderson, but not at that level since switched to David Pipe and hasn't picked up for wind surgery; competes off his lowest handicap mark (135) in years, so couldn't be totally dismissed.

Form: 4208-30

Play The Ace^p,t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 134| D

12/1

Enjoyed a productive spell last autumn (won four chases on the bounce; 2m4f-2m6f+) before losing his way slightly; back in-form over hurdles over the summer months and was a game winner over 3m at Southwell (good) three weeks ago.

Form: 6P4121

Rightdownthemiddle^p¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| OR: 131| CD

16/1

Justified the odds when a taking hurdles winner (3m, good) here in July, but has won just once in 15 starts over fences (in 2015), and finished last of seven to Hammersly Lake in 2m4f Class 2 here recently; stablemate of Swingbridge.

Form: 80P0-17

Royal Village¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 130| C

7/2

Forced a 'dead-heat' in a controversial finish on chase debut at Market Rasen (2m5f+) in July, and has found the frame on both subsequent starts at Stratford (2m6f+); more required over 3m from this mark; 1-1 here over hurdles.

Form: 5-44133

Lough Derg Jewel¹²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 128

20/1

Jumped well and made all when winning back-to-back races (2m4f+ heavy) at Ayr in late 2017 - his first two starts over fences; handicapper has adjusted his position and made life tougher since; challenging option for his seasonal reappearance.

Form: 32/117-3

Kilbree Kid^b,t⁸³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 127| CD

12/1

Knows his way around Scone Palace park blindfolded, and was a game winner of this race (off a 6lb lower mark) in 2016; no issues with forecast ground conditions, and in-form when last in competitive action in July (2L second to Cooking Fat; C&D).

Form: 5P-3162

Swingbridge^b,t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: G Elliott| OR: 125| CD

17/2

Has mixed hurdling with chasing in recent years; 6lb higher than when an easy 11L winner from stablemate Flaxen Flare over C&D in July (good); has produced broadly comparable efforts since, but jockey Richard Johnson opts to ride Rightdownthemiddle.

Form: F-04136

Forecasts

Royal Village (7/2), Double Ross (4/1), Ballyboker Breeze (4/1), Vaniteux (9/2), Swingbridge (17/2), Play The Ace (12/1), Kilbree Kid (12/1), Rightdownthemiddle (16/1), Lough Derg Jewel (20/1)

There's not a tougher race on today's Perth card than this 3m Handicap Chase, so the best advice is to simply absorb the action. However, we seek the winner, and that could well be the top-weight BALLYBROKER BREEZE. Soft ground mightn't suit him perfectly, but he handles it well enough and the forecast is for settled weather. Despite fast approaching the age of 11, he still has the look and feel of a progressive handicap chaser, with his most recent form (behind Swingbridge) explained by a mistake at a crucial stage. Of the others, the gallant 2016 race winner Kilbree Kid is always respected at Perth, and Rightdownthemiddle is Richard Johnson's pick.