13:38 Wetherby

Saturday 1 February 2020

All13:0313:3814:1214:4515:2315:5816:33

William Hill Betting TV Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:41 | Winning time: 5m 10.60s

Winter Escape^h1³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 148

6/1

Triple chase winner (two Grade 3s) in Ireland at up to 2m4f in the 2018-19 campaign. Has lost his way recently. Switched to this trainer since last run. Feasibly treated if change of scene/addition of hood can revive him. Market check.

Form: 53-P360

Nuts Well³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 146| C

4/1

Multiple winner over both hurdles and fences. Easy winner here (2m, soft) in December and defied a 10lb rise to beat 13 opponents at Musselburgh (front pair over 3L clear) last time. Up another 6lb, but looks a player in his hat-trick bid.

Form: 6-54411

King's Odyssey²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: L P Aspell| T: Evan Williams| OR: 142

14/1

Mudlark who is a triple winner over fences, the most recent at Warwick (3m) in November, when 3lb lower. Well held/pulled up at Sandown latest. Has that to overcome, but can't rule him out back over a trip that also suits.

Form: F6F-21P

The Dubai Way^p⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann| OR: 134| BF| CD

7/1

Dual chase winner, the latter over C&D in November (soft), when 8lb lower. Reported to have lost its left fore shoe when beaten favourite and running no sort of race at Newcastle last time. Still on a very competitive mark and not ruled out.

Form: 5271-15

Pistol Park^p,t⁴⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: B Ellison| OR: 130

25/1

Mudlark who has yet to win beyond 2m1½f, but stays 2m4f. Not seen since well beaten last of three at Ayr in November 2018. Drops 5lb for this return, making him just 1lb higher than his last win. Won on debut, but not since then when fresh.

Form: 44321/3-

Clan Legend^t¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 129

9/1

Good strike rate over both hurdles and fences at up to 2m4f. Loves to get his toe in, and ran well to be third from today's mark at Haydock last time. Bit more needed, but can't rule him out.

Form: 543-513

Kapgarry³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 124| CD

4/1

2-3 at this track, having won a novices' hurdle (2m3½f, good) and a C&D chase (soft) here. 7lb higher now than the latter, which was in November, and well held both starts since (both over further). Not ruled out back here, however.

Form: 0P-3168

Niven^p,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Ross Chapman| T: P A Kirby| OR: 124

7/2

1-13 over fences, and has run here on all four starts this season, doing best when 3½L third over 1m7½f (soft) last time, Also placed over C&D prior to that. On a competitive mark, but needs to pull out a bit more to win.

Form: 22-6723

Bollin Ace^p⁶⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 123

25/1

Won a Leicester beginners' chase (2m, heavy) in 2018, and improved on that in defeats on his last two starts of that season. Not seen since. Has been given a chance by the handicapper on his reappearance, but stable could be in better form.

Form: 421522/

Forecasts

Niven (7/2), Nuts Well (4/1), Kapgarry (4/1), Winter Escape (6/1), The Dubai Way (7/1), Clan Legend (9/1), King's Odyssey (14/1), Bollin Ace (25/1), Pistol Park (25/1)

An interesting contest where none of the field can be confidently ruled out. The suggestion is THE DUBAI WAY, who was too bad to be true last time, but did have an excuse, and may still have room for manoeuvre from this mark. Nuts Well can also be very competitive in his hat-trick bid, while Kapgarry could do better again now returning here. Clan Legend is another with a squeak and Bollin Ace would be very interesting if supported.