Watch Irish Racing On Racing TV Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 5m 39.2s

Oak Vintage²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 122

6/1

Finished runner-up on debut for Phil Kirby over an extended 2m3f here on Boxing Day; twice disappointing since; slowly edging down the weights, albeit still plenty high enough; stamina reservations with best form for Ann Hamilton at 2m.

Form: 144258

Lough Salt^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: R C Guest| OR: 115| C

2/1

A regular at his local track having competed here on no fewer than six occasions since October; twice narrowly beaten over 3m (by My Old Gold and Minella For Me) so the handicapper continues to inch him ever so steadily up the weights.

Form: 445232

Caraline^p,t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 114| C

4/1

A six-time winner over fences, including twice off near identical marks to today's at this track (2m3f+). However, badly out of form for almost 12 months now, so it's difficult to envisage that a revival is on the cards.

Form: 1-P5593

Captain Mowbray^p⁹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 112| C

6/1

Has generally run well at Wetherby throughout his racing career, including when surviving a truly shocking late mistake to score over 3m in December 2017; back from a short break seeking to regain some form of positive momentum.

Form: 186527

Ballasalla^p,t⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 110

11/4

Brother to the Grand National winner Ballabriggs; has finished runner-up on all three starts over fences; a final fence mistake proved pivotal when beaten a neck by Wishfull Dreaming at Doncaster (2m3f, good) in January; up in trip and 2lb higher.

Form: 07-4222

Forecasts

Lough Salt (2/1), Ballasalla (11/4), Caraline (4/1), Captain Mowbray (6/1), Oak Vintage (6/1)

BALLASALLA appeared to be a most unlucky loser when finishing runner-up for the third time in succession over fences (in-front when making a mistake at the final fence) at Doncaster in January. A brother to the 2011 Grand National winner Ballabriggs, this marginal step up in trip is neither here nor there at a sharp track like Wetherby. With the likeliest danger, the Wetherby regular Lough Salt continuing to steadily inch up the weights without managing to force his head to the front, granted a safe round of fencing this promises to be Ballasalla's day.