Cambridgeshire National Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:06 | Winning time: 8m 17.30s

Bishops Road^b¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 132

10/3

Has gone three years without a win but has claims here given his best run of the season came on his last venture in this grade off 3lb higher. Stable in good form after a very slow start.

Form: 632UP6

Holbrook Park^t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: N B King| OR: 127

11/2

Beat a bad lot at Plumpton last April and has been struggling with his mark since. Last run would not be the first time he has struggled on testing ground, but a 1lb drop in the weights may not help him enough.

Form: 141-24P

Duke Debarry³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 125

5/1

Out of his depth in a quick race last time. Previously beat a subsequent winner at Catterick when the satellite Nationals were earmarked as his Spring targets. Connections were expecting a higher mark than this so he has to be a leading contender.

Form: 461-715

Little Bruce^p⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 122| BF

3/1

Sound jumper who likes to press on from the front. Stays well, in good form and handles any ground. Others look better handicapped, but he will give his usual honest account.

Form: 1FP223

Amiral Collonges^p¹¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: L P Aspell| T: H J Evans| OR: 114

16/1

Runner-up in the 2017 Lincolnshire National off this mark. Rates a danger on that form, but his last run after a year off was uninspring and he has been sidelined a further four months.

Form: PP22U-5

Nakadam^p,t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: R M Smith| OR: 111

12/1

Landed a stamina test at Carlisle and both the second and third have won since. However, a 5lb higher mark seemed to have a negative effect last time.

Form: 23-4618

The Happy Chappy^b1,t⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 109| C

5/1

7lb lower than last chase win at Ludlow 14-months ago. Out of sorts since, including in three starts since wind surgery. Blinkers fitted but has a fair bit to prove.

Form: 84-9476

Forecasts

Little Bruce (3/1), Bishops Road (10/3), The Happy Chappy (5/1), Duke Debarry (5/1), Holbrook Park (11/2), Nakadam (12/1), Amiral Collonges (16/1)

Connections were expecting an opening mark of 130-135 for DUKE DEBARRY after he beat a subsequent winner at Catterick. The Spring Nationals were an immediate target and they will be glad he has got into this one on 125. Bishops Road may do more now his yard are in better form and having been dropped in grade, whilst Little Bruce is an honest sort whose jumping alone makes him hard to leave out of calculations.