Emerald Trading Waste Solutions Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 4m 13.1s

Halcyon Days^p³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Menzies| OR: 116| CD

9/2

Tough as nails handicapper who rarely knows when he's beaten defying the handicapper on many occasions. Produced a rare below-par effort last time at Kelso off a career-high mark; it may be that the assessor finally has his measure.

Form: 162214-

Civil Unrest^b¹⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 108| CD

9/2

Taken the runner-up slot five times since his last win which came at Cartmel around this time last year off a 3lb lower mark. Ran creditably the last twice (generally likes to go forward); can be a little quirky but should be in the picture.

Form: 223422-

Endless Credit⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Conor Shoemark| T: L Egerton| OR: 108| BF| CD

4/1

Took this contest last year (one of his two C&D wins) when with the Hammond yard but has yet to strike for this barn. That win came off 7lb higher; this will be his first run over fences for this yard; not quite at his best of late.

Form: P8374-4

Oliver's Gold³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Miss E Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 107| D

7/2

Far from the force of old but he has given signs in his last few starts that he capable of returning to winning form having taken three consecutive runner-up slots. The fact that he's found some consistency a positive; mark an attractive one.

Form: 670222-

Le Frank^t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 106| CD

5/1

Win over C&D in November showed him in a far better light than his last two starts which have been very disappointing including a soft departure last time. Won his race here in very easy fashion but the 6lb rise appears to have made life difficult.

Form: 4/41F5U-

Quick Brew^t¹¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 101| CD

10/1

Twice a course winner (once over this trip) the last of that duo of victories came back in 2016; only scored once since then. Overall his chasing strike-rate isn't that appealing (2-26); his last two efforts have been below-par, other offer more.

Form: 2F625P-

Black Kettle^p,t⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 88| D

12/1

Struggled for form in his last three starts since joining this yard having won on his final start for Micky Hammond in testing ground at Newcastle. Tried over a longer trip last time he reverts to 2m here; can only be watched at present.

Form: 431/75P-

Forecasts

Oliver's Gold (7/2), Endless Credit (4/1), Civil Unrest (9/2), Halcyon Days (9/2), Le Frank (5/1), Quick Brew (10/1), Black Kettle (12/1)

Most of these are no stranger to the Northern 2m handicap chase circuit and it may be the chance that OLIVER’S GOLD needs to convert one of his runner-up slots into a win at long last now that he resides on a very attractive mark based on his old form. Civil Unrest deserves a mention as a dual C&D winner with Brian Hughes taking the ride (always a positive), he looks to be the main danger. The handicapper finally looks to have got Halycon Days under control but it won’t be a surprise if he can bounce back in a race that lacks much depth judged on recent form.