Johnnie Walker Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 5m 29.4s

Our Kaempfer²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: James Bowen| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 133| D

7/2

Hasn't won since January 2017 but often acquits himself well in some big handicaps, as was the case at Chepstow last time. On a fair mark now is these slightly calmer waters.

Form: 696-545

Monbeg River¹⁶⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: M Todhunter| OR: 133| C

11/2

Took a nasty fall here back in April and only had one subsequent start when running well at Aintree. Returns from a six-month break here and is still 5lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 2192F-3

Acdc^h,t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 133| C| D

7/4

Progressed well last season when winning three times on testing ground, and proved he didn't need the mud when springing a shock at Wetherby on reappearance. Up another 5lb but maybe more improvement to come.

Form: 1U213-1

Forest Des Aigles^t²⁸⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 130

8/1

Rapidly progressive since going over fences and is 4-9 in this sphere. Found Grade 2 company too hot on final start in January and has been given plenty of time since. Should be more to come this term.

Form: 13/111P-

Katachenko^p1¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 128

13/2

Hasn't won since winning a Grade 3 handicap chase back in 2016. Well held in behind Acdc at Wetherby on return from a break and cheekpieces are now added to eek out a bit more.

Form: U/26F-44

Chidswell¹⁹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: N G Richards| OR: 127| C

6/1

Reliable enough and competitive from this mark, but his fencing is often his achilles heel. A force to be reckoned with when he puts everything together, but he has a tendency to be rather cumbersome more often than not.

Form: 22333P-

Forecasts

Acdc (7/4), Our Kaempfer (7/2), Monbeg River (11/2), Chidswell (6/1), Katachenko (13/2), Forest Des Aigles (8/1)

On the back of a break Chidswell will be dangerous if able to cut out the jumping errors. Our Kaempfer should be up to winning a race of this nature having gone well in a better race at Chepstow last time. FOREST DES AIGLES was on a large upward curve when last seen and has won four of his last six. Found Grade2 company a bit hot last time but returns from a break here and has potential to go quite high in this sphere.