Racing For Everyone racingwithpride Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 6m 8.4s

Viens Chercher¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 129| CD

4/5

Showed good attitude to battle back once headed to score over C&D last time off 4lb lower mark. Sure to make another bold bid for yard that does particularly well at this venue.

Form: P/61-321

Ned Stark¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| OR: 128

13/5

Four-time winner at a good level for Alan King five seasons ago but nothing since joining current yard in October 2016 and has run only twice in the last three years. Ran well after 21-month absence over C&D last time and chance on that evidence.

Form: 8P520/3

King's Song¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: D F O'Regan| T: D Broad| OR: 122| CD

8/1

Irish chaser who won in heavy ground at Tramore in April. Encounters very different conditions here but has been freshened up by two spins on the Flat and any market move would be very interesting.

Form: 804441-

The Wicket Chicken⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 120| D

8/1

Thorough stayer who saw it out best over 3m4f at Kelso penultimate start but ran badly at Southwell last time off higher mark. Eased just 1lb and may bounce back under top jockey.

Form: 2432-14

Blue Kascade³⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: A M Thomson| OR: 115| CD

22/1

Veteran seven-time winner whose last success came over C&D in May last year off 1lb higher mark. Good second at Wetherby this April but has run two shockers of late and needs to bounce back to his best to figure here.

Form: 4P2U-P5

Forecasts

Viens Chercher (4/5), Ned Stark (13/5), The Wicket Chicken (8/1), King's Song (8/1), Blue Kascade (22/1)

Denis O'Regan is a rare visitor to this track and his presence on KING'S SONG, an Irish raider who won well on his last start over fences, could be significant. Viens Chercher will surely test the selection and comes here in good form following his recent C&D win. If Ned Stark can recapture even a glimmer of his old form he would be very well handicapped and this fragile veteran ran nicely for a long way last time out, while The Wicket Chicken's run at Southwell was almost too bad to be true. It woudn't surprise to see him do better this time.