Brian Sewell Will Never Retire Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 4m 28.40s

Flaminger¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 120

10/11

No match for the 2-13f Lisp (Alan King) on chasing debut, but unbeaten in two subsequent starts over fences (2m2f-2m4f, heavy); 6lb higher than when keeping on strongly to beat Templier by 4½L at Fontwell on Boxing Day.

Form: 23-2211

Robin Des Mana¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr P York⁽⁵⁾| T: P York| OR: 110| D

16/1

Rediscovered the winning formula at Ffos Las (2m, soft) on his penultimate start; held off a similar (revised) mark at Leicester subsequently; others make more appeal.

Form: 666515

The Gipper⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 110| CD

9/4

Isn't the most consistent, although he does appreciate hock deep ground with all six hurdles wins coming on soft/heavy (at 2m); 0-6 over fences - was a creditable second to Dorking Cock at Chepstow (2m, heavy) last week.

Form: 069352

Finnegan's Garden⁹

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

4/1

A regular around the south coast venues (Fontwell, Plumpton and Lingfield); was winning for the second time here (2m4f) when produced from off the pace to beat Shanahan's Turn and Private Malone; struggled (third) in a Class 2 handicap latest.

Form: 1-P3133

Forecasts

Flaminger (10/11), The Gipper (9/4), Finnegan's Garden (4/1), Robin Des Mana (16/1)

Gary Moore won this race last year and holds a strong hand with the improving hat-trick seeker Flaminger. However, off a revised mark of 120 he meets a number of in-form rivals with proven soft/heavy ground Lingfield form on their respective CV's. Finnegan's Garden stays well and ideally needs further than 2m, so the preferred option is the Evan Williams-trained THE GIPPER. He will relish the testing conditions, and after making much of the early running was a creditable second on his return to the larger obstacles at Chepstow seven days ago.