15:00 Wincanton

Sunday 14 April 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3016:0516:3517:10

Healthy Pets Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 12.20s

Bally Longford¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-13| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 126| D

9/2

Back down to the mark that saw him score just over a year ago at Newbury over 2m6f (taking advantage of some generous handicapping). Jumping since then has become an issue (was fine over C&D last time); still not one to totally rely on.

Form: 252452

Opening Batsman^t²⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr M Legg⁽⁵⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 125| BF| CD

7/2

Continues in good heart but hasn't won for nearly two years although he's now fully 10lb below his last winning mark. Sustained his front running effort better than is often the case over C&D last time; travels well but is unpredictable at times.

Form: 3-47342

Zaliapour²⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 11-11| J: W T Kennedy| T: A Whitehead| OR: 124

66/1

Has some useful form to his name from his time in France over obstacles in his younger days and on the Flat more recently; not won since May 2015. Didn't appear to achieve much when finishing last of four over fences on stable\GB debut recently.

Form: 131P5/4

Royal Supremo²³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 122| D

5/1

Chase victory meant he had won in all three jumping spheres showing improved form having been well supported in the market over this trip at Southwell last August. Impressive on that occasion; needs to defy an absence and a 10lb rise in the weights.

Form: 3/2-P721

Poker School^p²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 122| D

6/1

Frustrating sort who backers must be running out of patience with having flattered to deceive on more than one occasion. Different headgear and a change of tactics not working the oracle last time; his losing run now stands at 20.

Form: 923253

Turtle Wars²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 120

3/1

Made a marked step forward on his first two chasing starts returning from a break last time. Travelled well through the race at Newbury (jumped well); that will have boosted his confidence; makes plenty of appeal off this mark given latest start.

Form: 915-5P5

Mine's A Pint^h,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 107| D

8/1

Took well to fences on his debut to lower a long odds-on shots colours at Plumpton over this trip. Sensibly moved into handicaps after that run he shaped well until a bad mistake just as the race was taking shape over C&D last time; respect needed.

Form: F59513

Un Beau Roman^h³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: P Henderson| OR: 105

14/1

Plummeted down the weights (hasn't won since November 2016) but has shown little sign of breaking his losing streak despite some modest placed efforts. His run last time typical of his form of late finishing a one-paced third at Fakenham.

Form: 35P243

Forecasts

Turtle Wars (3/1), Opening Batsman (7/2), Bally Longford (9/2), Royal Supremo (5/1), Poker School (6/1), Mine's A Pint (8/1), Un Beau Roman (14/1), Zaliapour (66/1)

A race that has plenty of question marks surrounding the majority of the protagonists with TURTLE WARS taken to capitalise on his eye-catching Newbury fifth last time where he jumped and travelled well despite the drop back to 2m4f. Royal Supremo was a taking winner when last seen but he has had a long break since romping home at Southwell with a 10lb rise in the handicap also to deal with. Opening Batsman, Poker School and Bally Longford all have their quirks and negative traits to deal with and Mine’s A Pint if he jumps soundly has a better chance of going close as he’s still unexposed over fences.