Last Fling Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 7m 43.40s

Thomas Patrick³¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: T Lacey| OR: 140

7/1

Fast improving when taking the Grade 3 Betway handicap chase at Aintree (3m1f, soft) in April 2018; things didn't go according to plan last season in some ultra-competitive races; is easing in the weights and shouldn't be written off.

Form: 1/2P8P4-

Lord Du Mesnil^p,t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 137| C

11/4

Followed up his breakthrough Newcastle win with a fine front-running display in the Tommy Whittle Chase (3m1½f, heavy) here last week; 10lb higher in the weights today over a new trip, but should turn in another solid shift.

Form: 642211

Fact Of The Matter^p,t⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 136

16/1

Took the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham (3m6f, good) by a neck last December and consequently hasn't raced over conventional park fences since; stays well, albeit is most effective on a sound racing surface.

Form: 2180-56

Perfect Candidate³⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 135| CD

4/1

Veteran; rolled back the years under positive tactics (rallied) when beating Moving In Style by 7L over C&D (good to soft) six weeks ago - form franked since; 6lb higher in the weights with increased competition for the lead.

Form: 3P5-441

Potters Legend^p⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: J M Quinlan| T: L Wadham| OR: 133| C

7/2

Steadily came clear from three out when winning over 3m1½f here (soft) in March; competes from just a 3lb higher mark on this occasion following a solid third to West Approach in the Grade 3 Bet Victor handicap chase at Cheltenham (3m3f, soft).

Form: 64F1/53

Classic Ben^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 132| BF

3/1

Broke his duck over fences with a game defeat of Ami Desbois at Sandown (3m, soft) in February; has kept reasonable company since including in the controversial void London National 23 days ago; sits 2lb above that winning mark.

Form: 5314-4V

Forecasts

Lord Du Mesnil (11/4), Classic Ben (3/1), Potters Legend (7/2), Perfect Candidate (4/1), Thomas Patrick (7/1), Fact Of The Matter (16/1)

A wide open Last Fling, which features last week's emphatic Tommy Whittle winner Lord Du Mesnil who finally appears to have mastered the art of winning races. He sits 10lb higher in the weights over a new trip with competition for the lead from the likes of Thomas Patrick and Perfect Candidate. Fergal O'Brien's veteran rolled back the years when scoring over C&D six weeks ago, and with that form franked (in the Mandarin at Newbury) by the runner-up Moving In Style is afforded maximum respect. However, the speculative selection is the stamina-laden course winner POTTERS LEGEND. He could potentially pick up the pieces if the leaders push too hard early.