Ice Cream Direct Members Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:35 | Winning time: 3m 58.31s

Mercian King²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 122| D

5/2

Back to winning ways at Worcester in October, and easy enough to excuse defeat in stronger company at Aintree last time. High in the weights now, but has benefit of talented conditional's claim here.

Form: 326120

Peppay Le Pugh^t⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 121| D

5/2

Has done well for new yard winning three of seven completed starts, and again ran with credit when 1¼L second of 3 to Capeland in 2m novice handicap at Wincanton last time. Should be thereabouts.

Form: F21332

Real Warrior²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: R T Dunne| T: C T Pogson| OR: 120

7/1

Winning pointer who has shown an aptitude for chasing in a couple of small-field novice events, but looks to have been handed a stiff mark on handicap debut.

Form: F21/P3-2

Instant Replay¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR: 118

9/2

Started off well over fences by winning his first two races at Sedgefield (2m3f-2m5f) in early 2018, but hit the deck mid-race over 3m here in March, and has gone with no spark in two runs this autumn,

Form: 112F-08

Get Rhythm³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 117| D

4/1

Hasn't won as many as he should have and is starting to look disappointing now, with another poor effort at Worcester last time. Can't really be entertained until showing signs of a revival.

Form: 235F-76

Non-Runners

Charmant²⁹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: J Ewart J: B S Hughes

Forecasts

Charmant (9/4), Peppay Le Pugh (5/2), Mercian King (5/2), Get Rhythm (4/1), Instant Replay (9/2), Real Warrior (7/1)

CHARMANT had plenty up his sleeve when making a winning chase debut at Sedgefield and ought to be able to defy the handicapper on that evidence. The consistent Peppay Le Pugh will ensure he doesn't have things all his own way, though, and Mercian King isn't ruled out with Rewx Dingle taking off a useful 7lb.