Passage House Inn Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 5m 10.80s

Ballinslea Bridge²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-7| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 122| D

11/4

Dual novice hurdle winner in 2018 when with Olly Murphy. Not seen from February of that year until last month, when racing keenly before being tailed off at Sandown on chase/stable debut. Interesting from this mark on old form but bit to prove.

Form: 22211/7

Acaro²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 110| BF| D

3/1

Heavy ground Fontwell handicap hurdle winner (2m3f) last March, when 3lb lower. Placed twice over fences from higher marks since then and not ruled out of the prize money again this time.

Form: 819-337

Tea Time On Mars²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 107

5/2

Improved when landing a Wincanton hurdle (2m5½f, good) at 25-1 last February, when 7lb lower. Bettered that in both starts over fences so far, finishing 13½L third at Fontwell (3m2f, soft) last time. Unexposed, though takes significant drop in trip.

Form: P881-63

Broughtons Rhythm²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 103

9/1

1-8 over hurdles (the win came on soft) and has been a bit frustrating over fences, being placed in 7-11, without winning. Handicapper is relenting now, and he has the ability to have a big say.

Form: 62-2235

Triple Chief^p⁷¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryony Frost| T: J D Frost| OR: 99| CD

9/2

C&D winner (soft) in 2017, but hasn't won for nearly two years and is now well treated based on that most recent success, being 7lb lower today. Has run plenty of good races in defeat since, and should again be thereabouts.

Form: 22-3233

The Mighty Ash^p¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs F M Shaw| OR: 95

16/1

0-15 under rules. Best form could earn him some prize money, but he has beaten just one opponent home in two starts this season, so plenty to prove at present.

Form: 5752-06

Forecasts

Tea Time On Mars (5/2), Ballinslea Bridge (11/4), Acaro (3/1), Triple Chief (9/2), Broughtons Rhythm (9/1), The Mighty Ash (16/1)

Tea Time On Mars remains of interest here, but whether he will have the speed to make a successful drop in trip of almost a mile remains to be seen. Acaro, Broughtons Rhythm and Triple Chief all have the form to get closely involved, but all also have vulnerable profiles. Therefore, it might be worth chancing that BALLINSLEA BRIDGE is ship-shape after his recent return from a long absence. If that's the case, despite conceding lumps of weight, he could outclass this field.