New Unibet Uniboost Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:53 | Winning time: 4m 5.50s

Delire D'Estruval^b¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 136| C| D

5/1

Successful twice last season including a course win over 2m4f off a 2lb lower mark. Shaped as if needing the run after 10-months off at Ascot last time in testing conditions (2m3f); stable now finding their feet and not out of this back to 2m.

Form: 14921-7

Locker Room Talk^h²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Savage⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 134| D

11/4

Progressive sort over fences opening his account last time out when jumping well from the front and winning by 7L at Taunton. Open to further progress off a 7lb higher mark; could be very dangerous off the front here if finding his rhythm.

Form: 0-12331

Johnbb²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R M Power| T: T Lacey| OR: 130| CD

11/10

Built on the promise he had shown on his chasing debut against some exposed rivals over C&D last time winning well after travelling well off a strong pace. Likely to be capable of further progress off a 6lb higher mark; race could be run to suit.

Form: 2313-31

American Tom^t²⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁷⁾| T: J M Bradley| OR: 125| BF| D

50/1

Without any headgear last time he continued to underachieve for this yard failing to win even though he was dropped to selling grade over hurdles. Did win a Punchestown novice when with Willie Mullins; hard to build a solid case for him.

Form: 5324F-3

Darebin^b²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 121| CD

13/2

Three-times a C&D winner with one of those victories coming in this race last year off a 2lb lower mark. Back to winning ways from out of the blue at Kempton in November; ran well here last time but has work to do with Johnbb on that performance.

Form: 61-5513

Finnegan's Garden⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 106| D

20/1

Returned to winning ways at Lingfield last month still looking as though he was on the upgrade. Followed up that win with a sound enough performance at Leicester although this is much tougher from 4lb out of the handicap.

Form: 11-P313

Forecasts

Johnbb (11/10), Locker Room Talk (11/4), Delire D'Estruval (5/1), Darebin (13/2), Finnegan's Garden (20/1), American Tom (50/1)

This race should set up nicely for JOHNBB who enjoyed the strong pace set by Darebin when winning over C&D last time and with just a 6lb rise to cope with he should confirm that form with more progress to come from the unexposed 6yo. Locker Room Talk is a another who likes to go from the front and he’s improving but the fact that he could get taken on for the lead tempers enthusiasm. Delire D’Estruval comes from a yard that are now reviving after a spell in the doldrums and it would be no surprise to see him involved after a sound Ascot comeback run.