Birdie's 2019 Wall & Desk Calendars Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 4m 9.3s

Space Oddity^h²³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 132| D

10/11

Yet to win a handicap over fences. Arrives with a 2lb drop and the benefit of a recent run and has shown enough to suggest that he can go close now dropped slightly in grade.

Form: 72U54-4

Curious Carlos^t⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 130| D

14/1

Won a couple of novice events at around this trip in the spring. Well held from this mark on handicap debut in June, and also after a break in a hurdle last time. Bit to prove, including on soft ground.

Form: 65-1159

Lillington^p,t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 122| D

9/4

Respectable effort in better company at Cheltenham last time, but had been progressing over fences prior to that. 1lb drop and lower grade can help, and he acts on soft. Should be thereabouts.

Form: 3U2-114

Savello^h,t¹⁶⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton| OR: 120| D

16/1

Sole handicap chase win was in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in 2014 and has not won over fences since 2016. Inconsistent since returning from an absence in February, but would be a danger to all if producing his best from this mark.

Form: 6/3P03-5

Broughtons Rhythm^h1²¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Sherwood| OR: 110| D

11/2

Scored from this mark over hurdles in 2017. Still early days over fences. Returns fresh, which in his case is positive, and in first-time headgear. Improvement needed, but could see him going well.

Form: 31/6332-

Kilinakin²¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 97| D

25/1

Scored from 11lb lower at Leicester (heavy) in March. Well held both subsequent runs last season, 7lb 'wrong' here and not easy to fancy.

Form: 92/5178-

Non-Runners

Admiral's Secret²⁰⁶

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: V R A Dartnall J: Conor Shoemark

Forecasts

Space Oddity (10/11), Lillington (9/4), Admiral's Secret (3/1), Broughtons Rhythm (11/2), Curious Carlos (14/1), Savello (16/1), Kilinakin (25/1)

Space Oddity looks set to go well here now dropping slightly in grade, while Lillington is another who enters calculations. However, BROUGHTONS RHYTHM is unexposed over fences, goes well enough when fresh and is on a winning hurdles mark. He is the suggestion.