Cumberland Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 7m 3.33s

Scotchtown^t,v²³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 125

3/1

Better going right-handed he's yet to open his chase account (0-11) at times looking rather wayward as he did when last seen at Uttoxeter in March. Has some useful form to his name and should be suited by this test; needs everything to fall right.

Form: 9/6432P-

Weststreet¹⁹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 125

17/2

Took a while to get the hang of chasing but recorded back-to-back victories when he did at Hexham and Perth over marathon trips. Every sign that he could improve again this term; likely to need every yard of this trip, no great record fresh though.

Form: P38311-

Ballymalin²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 124

3/1

One of two from an in-form yard; looks to have overcome his jumping issues since teaming up with today's rider; justified good support to win at Worcester (2m7f, soft) last time. Raised 2lb, good attitude will help; could be vulnerable off this mark.

Form: 8/052-61

Lough Derg Farmer¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 123| C

5/1

Showed a much better attitude when winning over an extended 3m here earlier in the year; still showed the questionable side of his nature in subsequent starts. Ran better than his finishing position suggests on return; stable remain quiet though.

Form: 23162-7

Harry The Viking¹⁹¹

Age: 14| Weight: 11-9| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 122| CD

22/1

Took advantage of a going day to win the Borders National late last year but had a couple of off days after that flopping for the third time in the Highland National when last seen. Won this in 2017 off 1lb lower; very hard to predict these days.

Form: P7/710P-

Bafana Blue^t¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Ross Chapman| T: M A Barnes| OR: 117| CD

9/2

Right at the top of his game at the moment producing a career-best last time over C&D off a 5lb lower mark. Had his quirks in the past and has to defy a new mark but hard to say he can't pull it off with his small yard continuing to shine.

Form: 814-121

Old Salt^p,t¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 109

8/1

In better form earlier in the year when recording three chase victories but has gradually slipped back into the moodier side of his nature. Gave a morose display here last time over 2m4f, his third place masking the poor nature of the run.

Form: 1473U3

Forecasts

Ballymalin (3/1), Scotchtown (3/1), Bafana Blue (9/2), Lough Derg Farmer (5/1), Old Salt (8/1), Weststreet (17/2), Harry The Viking (22/1)

With the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard in good form the pair that he runs here are sure to attract attention although neither come without their question marks. Scotchtown has yet to win over fences and is going in the correct direction but he still has a quirky side to his nature. Ballymilan appears to have solved his jumping issues but the small rise in the weights could make him vulnerable. BAFANA BLUE has had his critics in the past but this C&D winner has to be considered once again while he and his yard remain in such good form. Weststreet will relish this test having won over further but may just need this to put an edge on him.