Alfa Aggregate Products Golden Spurs Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:01 | Winning time: 6m 27.9s

Samuel Jackson³³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-7| J: M G Nolan| T: R Mitford-Slade| OR: 136| C| D

5/2

Useful hurdler who goes well in testing ground and won here (2m7f) in January, before making the frame in a Doncaster Grade 2. Couldn't get in a blow on chase debut last month, but may have needed that and could kick on again.

Form: 2/1135-5

Same Circus^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 125| CD

11/2

C&D scorer on soft in March, when 5lb lower. Not as good since then and, while she could be competitive, she needs to find more to than we saw at Catterick last time if she is to win again.

Form: 114-5F4

Sparkling River³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: T Scudamore| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 124| D

10/1

Goes best at Warwick, where she won for a third time last season (Same Circus ¾L behind her). Added a Uttoxeter win from this mark in February. Well held here last month, but could go close if she can bounce back.

Form: 1413P-8

Early Retirement^p⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 123

3/1

Dual 2m4½f Southwell winner over hurdles (on soft/good). Made a positive start back there over fences (3m) in October. Up 3lb for that improved effort and looks set to go close.

Form: 125P-32

Justforjames^p³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 119| D

28/1

Multiple Sedgefield winner at around 2m4f. 4lb higher than the most recent of those, in April, and in a better race here. Well beaten from just 1lb higher on his reappearance and still has it to prove over this far.

Form: 34131-5

Billy Bronco^p1²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Evan Williams| OR: 117| D

5/1

Ayr maiden hurdle winner (3m½f, heavy) almost two years ago, but has found it tough going in handicaps over both fences and hurdles since. Even so, several pieces form give him a chance from this mark. Not ruled out in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 4/3428-0

Achille^p²⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 112

6/1

Won both a hurdle and a chase when trained in France. Dropped 16lb in his first four starts for this trainer, but showed signs of revival from this mark at Wincanton when last seen in March. Market check suggested.

Form: 45/5572-

Forecasts

Samuel Jackson (5/2), Early Retirement (3/1), Billy Bronco (5/1), Same Circus (11/2), Achille (6/1), Sparkling River (10/1), Justforjames (28/1)

An interesting handicap chase. Money for Achille or Billy Bronco would probably be significant, while Samuel Jackson may be able to improve for his reappearance and go close. Sparkling River can't be ruled out, but Same Circus needs to show us more than she has to win from this mark. The suggestion, therefore, is EARLY RETIREMENT who, like many of his trainer's inmates, improved for jumping a fence last time, and he is taken to go one better today.