Close Brothers Business Finance Handicap Chase

Off time: 20:15 | Winning time: 5m 16.10s

Barton Rose²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 99| D

11/4

15 runs and 18 months now since her last win but has placed eight times in the interim. Well held latest and overall hard to think she is well handicapped off recent showings although she still appeals as likely to go well.

Form: 44732-4

Global Domination^p,t²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 96

7/4

2m5½f win at Market Rasen two starts back his fourth over fences. Third of eight at Fakenham since shows he can handle this higher mark so far all he's hardly well handicapped he could go well.

Form: 3P261-3

Bob's Call^p²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: R J Armson| OR: 80

40/1

Tailed off in a recent hunter chase at Huntingdon, a first race under rules since 2015. Point-to-point form since better but only placed once in 16 under rules overall so easy to oppose.

Form: 3/P1PP-6

Cnoc Sion^p³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: David Noonan| T: R Brotherton| OR: 74| D

3/1

Winner at Bangor over 2m4½f last October on good. Not won since but often had soft ground or un-ideal trip as an excuse. Now 1lb below aforementioned success and with ground/trip to suit expectant of a bold bid.

Form: 1P6355-

St Merryn²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: W T Kennedy| T: B R Summers| OR: 66

5/1

Seemingly regressive 14-race maiden getting no nearer to breakthrough success. Best form would give him a squeak but that now over a year ago.

Form: 4P69P-5

River Purple^t¹⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Miss L Brooke⁽⁷⁾| T: Lady S Brooke| OR: 63| D

12/1

Won six chases between 2013 and 2017 and a two-runner point this month. Form latterly under rules however was highly regressive and surprise if he still has what it takes here.

Form: P0P3-13

Forecasts

Global Domination (7/4), Barton Rose (11/4), Cnoc Sion (3/1), St Merryn (5/1), River Purple (12/1), Bob's Call (40/1)

Hard to be overly enthusiastic about any of these highly exposed and in many cases declining runners. A chance is taken on CNOC SION coming back to form now with this handicap mark and trip/ground all in his favour to leave some modest efforts behind. Global Domination probably sets the standard as a recent winner ahead of Barton Rose who is pretty consistent on the whole.