Bloomfield Horse Boxes Handicap Chase

Off time: 18:15 | Winning time: 6m 55.5s

Squouateur¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 133

9/1

Flattered only to deceive on many occasions in his chasing career (fancied at more than one Cheltenham Festival); yet to win over fences though (0-16). Took a step in the right direction last time (eased in grade); back up in trip, hard to win with.

Form: P/P0FP-2

Sumkindofking^p1,t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 133| C

13/8

Dual handicap chase winner last year who held his form well after the last of those wins before needing a break. Given a stiff task off his absence at Cheltenham (Kim Muir); ran below his best last time, this is easier (first-time cheekpieces).

Form: 322403-

Mahlermade^t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 127| D

11/8

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser who was in danger of becoming frustrating in this sphere but benefitted from positive tactics to win at Haydock over this trip. Jumped well and showed a good attitude last time; 8lb higher here but still a leading player.

Form: 2223U1-

The Wicket Chicken^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 121| C

7/2

Upped to a marathon trip last time for the first time she finally got off the mark over fences (travelled and jumped more smoothly). Questions to answer now dropped in trip off an 8lb higher mark versus better opposition.

Form: 42432-1

Non-Runners

Sir Will⁵²

Weight: 11-6| Age: 8

T: Kerry Lee J: R Patrick

Forecasts

Mahlermade (11/8), Sumkindofking (13/8), The Wicket Chicken (7/2), Sir Will (6/1), Squouateur (9/1)

It seemingly took an age for the penny to quite drop over fences for MAHLERMADE but it did drop in fine style at Haydock last time producing a very likeable display in arguably a tougher race than this. He’s been raised 8lb for that win but looks the type who can cope with this mark and this lightly-raced sort may well be able to make all again. The Wicket Chicken has a shorter trip and a rise in class to cope with which could once again force her in jumping errors which have proved costly before. Squouateur has the ability to win a race like this but that’s been said before and the eased in class Sumkindofking is a bigger danger despite having ground to make up on the selection.