16:20 Market Rasen

Saturday 19 October 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Virgin Bet Prelude Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:22 | Winning time: 5m 37.10s

San Benedeto^p,t¹⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 153WS

8/1

Smart chaser at his peak who returned to something near his best from a reduced mark when taking a competitive handicap chase at Newbury in March off a 6lb lower mark. Excuses in two races since; returns from a wind op, ought to go well fresh.

Form: 460173-

Mellow Ben¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J E Moore| T: C Gordon| OR: 145

9/1

Progressed well over hurdles and looks to be doing even better since he went chasing (won his last two starts). Raised 10lb for his last win at Fontwell over a similar trip (jumped well); stable in good form; may have more to offer.

Form: 2-38211

Valdez²¹⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 144

12/1

Lightly-raced sort (had injury problems) but has a good win-to-run ratio over fences although he could have possibly won more (given too much to do when last seen at Newbury). Not badly handicapped and has won when fresh before; worthy of respect.

Form: 3U/P432-

Royal Village^p⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 141| CD

7/2

Dual C&D winner the second of those coming in this last year off a 12lb lower mark; won twice more since, with a narrow win coming at Southwell on his last run. Consistent sort whose yet to run a poor race here; sure to give another good account.

Form: 36-1421

Vivas^p,t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 137| C

9/1

May well have to improve to play a part although he is a course winner over hurdles; has three small-field handicap chase wins to his name late last year. Returned to his last winning mark when successful last time; 7lb rise makes his task tougher.

Form: 18537-1

Whoshotwho²¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 134| CD

6/1

Second on his last two starts those are creditable outings although this sort of trip does look to test him and he may be better back at shorter. Twice a C&D winner in calmer waters he should give a good account but others appeal more.

Form: 1F3U22-

Luckofthedraw²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 133| CD

5/2

Bounced back to form (yard going well) from a very poor end to last season (pulled-up three times in a row) when winning over C&D off a 4lb lower mark. Remains to be seen if he can back that up swimming in deeper waters this time around.

Form: 82PPP-1

Theligny^t²⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 133| D

8/1

Not really enjoyed much success since a productive 2016 when he won four times over hurdles. Still early days over fences but he does look as though he needs a tougher test than this these days; may well need this on his return from an absence.

Form: 72P/363-

Copper West¹³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 126

16/1

Fortunate to open his chasing account at Leicester late last year (left clear at last) but did manage to follow up some four months later at Haydock. Ran poorly when last seen in the summer though; yet to prove himself off this mark.

Form: 2411-34

Forecasts

Luckofthedraw (5/2), Royal Village (7/2), Whoshotwho (6/1), Theligny (8/1), San Benedeto (8/1), Mellow Ben (9/1), Vivas (9/1), Valdez (12/1), Copper West (16/1)

A competitive early season contest to say the least with last year’s winner Royal Village returning to defend his title seeking his third C&D victory although it will prove tougher off this mark, some 12lb higher than last year. San Benedeto has kept better company than this in the past and on the back of a wind op his chance is there for all to see and he along with the likes of Valdez and Luckofthedraw add to the depth in this race, the latter bidding to build on a recent C&D win. MELLOW BEN is improving fast and despite a 10lb rise he comes here with a good chance of completing his hat-trick especially as the Chris Gordon yard are in fine form, his jumping should keep him right in the mix