Matchroom Multisport Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 5m 25.4s

Bally Longford²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 130| D

11/8

Left a couple of disappointment behind when winning over 2m6½f at Newbury (soft) to end last season. Respectable fourth in warm Cheltenham contest on return although well beaten but as the only one to have run this term he looks the one to beat.

Form: 43PP1-4

Jennys Surprise²²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130

5/2

Won three times last season at 3m-3m2f as well as running well over 3m4f. Not seen over a trip this short since 2015 so that the obvious concern although she goes well fresh and conditions will help bring stamina to the fore.

Form: 14P122-

Ballyheigue Bay^p,t²³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 122| BF| D

11/4

2m7½f and 3m1f winner last season also ran well in final start when second over 3m6½f at Exeter on heavy ground. Obviously better over further but most of these are and heavy ground will help his cause.

Form: F11232-

Sizing Brisbane⁷⁷¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 109

8/1

Only ever races six times with a second in a Limerick hurdle in June 2016 the best of them. Lone run over fences and for this yard next at Carlisle when midfield. Off 771 days since and hard to be confident although obviously very unexposed.

Form: 476826/

Forecasts

Bally Longford (11/8), Jennys Surprise (5/2), Ballyheigue Bay (11/4), Sizing Brisbane (8/1)

With the benefit of a positive recent run and his main rivals wanting trips much farther than this this looks a good chance for BALLY LONGFORD for last year's winning connections. Of the rivals there is little to separate Jennys Surprise and Ballyheigue Bay but the former just about gets the nod given her good first time out record.