Easby Abbey Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 6m 26.51s

Lord County^p³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: W T Kennedy| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 120

7/2

A disappointment when stepped up in trip (to 3m) at Doncaster latest, so surprising that his connections persist at this trip; ground conditions ideal judged upon his earlier efforts (Doncaster (2m3f) and Wetherby (2m3f+)).

Form: 1-P1524

Justforjames^p⁵⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 116

13/2

Won off a similar mark at Sedgefield (2m3f+, good) in April but has been badly out of sorts so far this season; his stable are steadily hitting peak form, so that at least offers a small ray of light for his chances.

Form: 131-5P8

Bright Prospect^p⁷⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Callum Bewley| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 113

9/2

On the premises off this mark (third) at Wetherby (3m, good) in November; out of his comfort zone in the Borders National latest but this rates as a more realistic assignment; faces competition for the lead from Blue Kascade; chance.

Form: 215-539

Fifty Shades²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 98

4/5

Entitled to win this race based upon his close second to Sam Red at Cheltenham (3m1f, good) in October; soft ground a potential excuse for a couple of his poorer efforts since; much respected.

Form: 3P2545

Non-Runners

Blue Kascade⁴⁴

Weight: 11-12| Age: 12

T: A M Thomson J: Rachel McDonald

Forecasts

Fifty Shades (4/5), Blue Kascade (11/4), Lord County (7/2), Bright Prospect (9/2), Justforjames (13/2)

The six-year-old Fifty Shades ought to prove capable of winning a race of this nature based upon his early season form (Cheltenham). With ground conditions in his favour there's little doubt that he'll be a popular choice among the punters. Therefore, we'll seek the potential value elsewhere in a race where a couple of the others can be considered as unlikely winners. The experience of the 4m Borders National at Kelso wasn't necessarily to the liking of BRIGHT PROSPECT, but his November Wetherby third to Miles To Milan is respectable form and as a possible pace-angle around this sharp track (alongside Blue Kascade) he could just take some pegging back.