Heavitree Brewery PLC Handicap Chase

Off time: 19:20 | Winning time: 4m 40.2s

Darcy Ward^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| OR: 126| CD

6/5

Made a good start to his chasing career when beating fair sort over C&D last time out in novices event. 5lb rise looks fair and yard has respectable 18% strike rate at this track.

Form: 62/7P31-

Bally Longford^t²³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 125

13/2

1lb lower than last winning mark which came at Newbury in March 2018. Patchy form since then buy yard won this event 12 months ago and every chance he will make a bold bid to follow up as he eases down the weights.

Form: 524525-

Briac³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 109| D

5/1

Has gone up 11lb in the ratings since November having run well all starts, including wins at Ffos Las and Sedgefield. Kept on when close third at Chepstow last time off 1lb lower mark. Chance once again but may find one or two too good.

Form: 411333-

Triple Chief^p¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁷⁾| T: J D Frost| OR: 100| CD

2/1

Scored over C&D in March 2017 and has won twice since then at Taunton. Runner-up last three starts off this mark and handicapper reluctant to cut him any slack.

Form: 363222-

Non-Runners

Goonjim¹⁵

Weight: 10-0| Age: 8

T: Alexandra Dunn J: Jamie Bargary

Forecasts

Darcy Ward (6/5), Triple Chief (2/1), Briac (5/1), Bally Longford (13/2), Goonjim (66/1)

Most of these are pretty well exposed and have few secrets from the handicapper, but DARCY WARD won his only chase in good style over C&D last time and could be a bit better than his rivals on these terms. Last year's winning yard is represented by Bally Longford who looks weighted to make a race of it, while Triple Chief has done little wrong in his last three outings but looks to be in need of some help from the assessor. Briac should again be on the premises but has looked rather one paced in recent starts.