15:00 Ascot

Saturday 19 January 2019

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:05

bet365 Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 5m 14.7s

Mister Whitaker⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: M R Channon| OR: 152| BF| D

8/1

Winner of the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Festival last season and favourite for BetVictor Gold Cup there last time out but had to settle for fourth. Same mark here and remains competitive off it.

Form: 1211-14

San Benedeto^p,t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150| C

14/1

Grade One winning novice in 2017 yet to add to that but encouraging fourth here over 2m1f two starts back before highly tried latest. 2lb lower than aforementioned fourth and no issue with longer trip so has each way potential.

Form: 2-36346

Cyrname^t⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150| BF| D

10/1

Dual Grade Two winning novice last season was third to Mister Whitaker first time out (4lb better off now) before his latest midfield run here. More needed now but longer trip in his favour and jockey selects over rival with sound claims.

Form: 1214-37

Benatar²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 149| CD

7/2

C&D Grade Two winning novice last season improved in each start this season culminating in his third here latest in a similarly valuable 3m handicap where he looked to not quite last it out. This trip preferred and every chance of a bold bid now.

Form: 113-443

Jerrysback²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: 2nd Preference| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 148| D

6/1

Former point winner was two from two last term over hurdles and after an inauspicious start over fences this season he won at Bangor before chasing home a smart prospect latest in a C&D Grade Two. Also declared Haydock 1:30.

Form: 111/512

Belami Des Pictons⁴⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 146

8/1

Prolific since joining this yard (five from seven) and having won his last three chases in 2016/17 season he followed home high class Waiting Patiently in lone race last season. Obviously had issues but high class so betting may guide.

Form: 14111/2-

Flying Angel^t,v²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 145

20/1

Found life tough since Aintree Grade One success with 10 winless races since spanning over next two seasons. C&D second three starts back one of his better races in that spell but lesser efforts since and higher mark here.

Form: 80-6287

Mr Medic³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 143| CD

7/1

C&D winner of first start in 11 months here two starts back. Midfield latest in similarly valuable Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham off this 9lb higher mark but a bad error curtailed progress there so better is possible.

Form: 6131-16

Happy Diva^t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 142| CD

8/1

Won three small field novice chases last year and placed in other four starts. Continued good record when second to Mister Whitaker on return and after being brought down she again ran well at Cheltenham latest. Always goes well.

Form: 121-2B2

Doitforthevillage^t²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: P Henderson| OR: 140

12/1

Built on promise of Newbury third in second start this term when winning at Chepstow on Welsh National day latest. 7lb rise not unreasonable given same margin length wise but this is considerably classier contest.

Form: 264-631

Divine Spear¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139| C

12/1

Won first two over fences last season before ending light campaign with second at Musselburgh. Pulled up on return at Cheltenham where Happy Diva finished second so plenty of improvement needed but too soon to rule that out.

Form: 25/112-P

Get On The Yager²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 136| BF| D

20/1

Winner twice in December 2017 but season rather tailed off although highly tried and over marathon trips latest two. Well beaten on return at Wetherby despite being joint fav so much more needed now.

Form: 1129P-6

Quite By Chance^t¹²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 135| BF| C| DWS

25/1

Five-time chase winner but not since 2016 and only once placed in five starts this season. Had a wind-op since latest substandard effort at Newton Abbot but might just need this run.

Form: 7-52584

Forecasts

Benatar (7/2), Jerrysback (6/1), Mr Medic (7/1), Happy Diva (8/1), Mister Whitaker (8/1), Belami Des Pictons (8/1), Cyrname (10/1), Doitforthevillage (12/1), Divine Spear (12/1), San Benedeto (14/1), Flying Angel (20/1), Get On The Yager (20/1), Quite By Chance (25/1)

A really tricky contest this but smart novices from last year BENATAR and Cyrname are both high on the list with the former, a C&D Grade Two winner last season preferred to the Paul Nicholls trained second season chaser who had similarly smart form last season. Ultra-consistent mare Happy Diva has never been out of the first three over fences apart from when she was brought down so will be hard to keep out of the frame again.