15:00 Warwick

Saturday 11 January 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:00

McCoy Contractors Civil Engineering Classic Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 7m 43.20s

Le Breuil³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 148| C

8/1

Cheltenham Festival winner last term and not disgraced in the Becher last time out on his first start over the National fences. Festival/National could be the main target this term though and it's a tough ask to concede weight all round here.

Form: 3241-P7

Crosspark²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: J E Moore| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 144

20/1

Eider Chase winner prior to finishing runner-up in the Scottish National last season. However, hasn't looked the same in two starts this year, pulled up at Cheltenham prior to finishing tailed off at Haydock last time out.

Form: 5312-P8

The Conditional⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 142

4/1

Has really progressed over fences since joining this yard, winning a big handicap at Cheltenham prior to a solid effort in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury. 5lb higher and longer trip to cope with but expected to be thereabouts again.

Form: 654-312

Kimberlite Candy^p³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: R P McLernon| T: T Lacey| OR: 140

9/2

Loves testing conditions and ran a huge race when runner-up in the Becher last time out, staying on gamely and shaping like a step up in trip would suit. 3lb higher and faces a different test here but ought to go well again.

Form: 1935P-2

Impulsive Star^b1²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 137| CD

10/1

Won this in good fashion last year but that seems to have left its mark and he's failed to finish in three outings since. Entitled to have needed the run last time on return but still 4lb above last year's winning mark and others make more appeal.

Form: 4/21PP-P

Mysteree^b³⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-1| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: M Scudamore| OR: 137

20/1

Denied by a narrow margin when bidding for a second Eider Chase wins and returned this season with a success at Kelso. Wasn't in the same form over the National fences last time though and has struggled off similar marks in the past.

Form: P092-1P

Bobo Mac²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: S Bowen| T: T Symonds| OR: 135| C

8/1

Got his head in front from a reduced mark at Ludlow in November and posted a respectable effort from his revised mark next time out. Another 5lb rise seems harsh but he's on an upward curve at present.

Form: 2085-12

Captain Chaos^b¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 134

10/1

Tough ask from out of the handicap in the Welsh National last time and while he's not won for nearly two years, he's run some fair races in defeat including when only narrowly denied at Newcastle two starts back; needs to prove he stays this far.

Form: 26-6P2P

Darlac^p¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 132

8/1

Just a maiden hurdle win to his name so far and while he wasn't beaten far in a three runner heat at Fontwell in October, he's failed to build on that in three starts since; opposable.

Form: 7P-2F34

Petite Power^t³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 131

12/1

Only narrowly denied a hat-trick when beaten just a neck at Exeter (3m6f) last time out. Another 6lb rise and a step up in class demands improvement though.

Form: 29/7-112

Head To The Stars⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁵⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 127

16/1

Bounced back from a fall with a solid second last time out when the front two pulled 10L clear of the field. 3lb higher in a much tougher race and won't be able to get away with the jumping errors that have been on show in his last three starts.

Form: P5-43F2

Joueur Bresilien⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 125

18/1

Gained a first success over fences when winning at Ffos Las (2m5f) on his return but has failed to back that up in any way from his revised mark, tailed off twice since.

Form: S4P-149

Goodnight Charlie^b¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: C Fryer| OR: 122| CD

33/1

Won a mares' chase at Cheltenham in April but has struggled since and no obvious signs she's up to this sort of level.

Form: 1P1-35P

Non-Runners

Rocky's Treasure⁴²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 9

T: K Bailey & M Nicholls J: Non Runner

Milansbar²

Weight: 10-8| Age: 13

T: N B King J: Non Runner

Forecasts

The Conditional (4/1), Kimberlite Candy (9/2), Le Breuil (8/1), Bobo Mac (8/1), Darlac (8/1), Captain Chaos (10/1), Impulsive Star (10/1), Petite Power (12/1), Rocky's Treasure (14/1), Head To The Stars (16/1), Joueur Bresilien (18/1), Mysteree (20/1), Crosspark (20/1), Milansbar (25/1), Goodnight Charlie (33/1)

Two previous winners Milansbar and Impulsive Star line up for another crack at this race but given that both have been badly out of form in recent times, it may pay to side with a less exposed option. KIMBERLITE CANDY is the tentative selection after a huge effort over the National fences last time out and provide he doesn't get too far behind, he ought to give another good account. The Conditional looks progressive and rates as the main danger but Le Breuil isn't one to rule out if he's fully tuned up for a crack at this.