15:45 Haydock

Saturday 18 January 2020

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:4516:15

Cheltenham Preview Here In March Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:48 | Winning time: 4m 16.57s

Clan Legend^t²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 129| C| D

14/1

Useful handicap chaser who was slightly tumbling in the weights and took advantage of that with victory at Kelso (2m1f) last time out. Back up 4lb so handicapper is taking no chances.

Form: U/543-51

Muratello²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 125

7/2

Yet to really fire since switching to the UK and not figured in two chase starts yet. Wind surgery didn't do the trick when 25L defeat at Kempton (2m4f) on Boxing Day and plenty to prove off this weight.

Form: V330-85

Zizaneur¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 128

11/2

Sole success came over in France and has failed to complete in his last three starts. Was running a bold race when unseating two out at Taunton (2m) on chasing debut. Not to be discounted if jumping improves.

Form: 220-FPU

Sir Egbert^h²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 125| D

9/1

Winner over fences a year ago before keen tendency seemingly told last season. Latest chase start riddled with mistakes over C&D and needs to improve on that. Likely front-runner.

Form: 128-325

Go Long^p1²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: Evan Williams| OR: 123| D

11/1

Last chase win came over a year ago and rarely threatened as of late, including 14L defeat at Newbury (2m) on last start. Dropped a further 3lb and well below last winning mark now.

Form: 313-596

Billingsley³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: L Treadwell| T: A Ralph| OR: 122| D

5/2

Deep ground novice hurdle winner and took chasing form to a better level when staying-on winner at Hereford (2m) in mid-December. 5lb rise seems fair but entitled to go well again.

Form: 1/504-U1

Ard Chros¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 122| D

16/1

Faller on two of his last three starts which is a concern but evaporated them doubts with nice success at Ayr (2m) earlier this month. Hit with 7lb rise but not one to be discounted.

Form: 1/3-4PF1

Fiddlers Bow^p1³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 118| D

33/1

Rattled up two wins in a row - both at Ayr - around this time last year and made return from long absence with good second at Doncaster (2m3f) last month. Entitled to come forward for this.

Form: 2/3211-2

Ubaltique^b,t²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 10-13| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 116| CD

16/1

Veteran who typically has fine form on testing ground at this venue but not as good on last two starts, including 13L third over C&D last month. Only dropped 1lb so not getting respite in the weights.

Form: U55-153

Le Coeur Net^p,t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 116| D

8/1

Gradually improving this season and rewarded for that with narrow success at Wincanton (1m7f) on Boxing Day. 4lb worse off now but levelled out by 7lb claimer. Leading claims on that evidence.

Form: 52-3221

Forecasts

Billingsley (5/2), Muratello (7/2), Zizaneur (11/2), Le Coeur Net (8/1), Sir Egbert (9/1), Go Long (11/1), Clan Legend (14/1), Ubaltique (16/1), Ard Chros (16/1), Fiddlers Bow (33/1)

A race which may be one for improvers, BILLINGSLEY fits that bill and avenged memories of his unseat two starts ago with a gutsy success at Hereford in testing ground last time. The handicapper hasn't been too harsh which keeps him on a workable mark still. The same can be applied to Le Coeur Net, who has failed to disappoint all season but now faces his stiffest task to date, while the likes of the mercurial Zizaneur and Ard Chros are high enough in the weights but were promising on their latest starts.