16:20 Exeter

Friday 21 February 2020

All14:1514:4715:2015:5016:2016:5017:20

Be Wiser Insurance Devon National Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:21 | Winning time: 8m 26.3s

Perfect Candidate⁵³

Age: 13| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 135| C

10/1

Successful by 7L when taking a handicap chase over an extended 3m4f at Haydock (good-to-soft) in November and ran well when runner-up over the same C&D the following month. Interesting to see how he fares.

Form: P5-4412

Dawson City³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: P Gundry| OR: 131| CD

9/2

Finished a decent fourth in a six runner heavy ground handicap chase over 3m at Ascot last time out. Notable runner having won this race for the last two years including off this mark 12 months ago.

Form: 154-754

St Erney³⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Kieron Edgar| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 130| C

33/1

Made a winning handicap debut when successful by a neck in a 3m novices' handicap chase on soft ground here in March last year. Absent since and is worth a check in the market stepping up in trip on seasonal reappearance.

Form: 2/331-

Regal Flow³⁴

Age: 13| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R H Buckler| OR: 130

28/1

Showed good form when beaten a head in a 3m handicap chase at Sandown (soft) early last month but struggled over an extended 3m4f at Taunton (heavy) when pulled up subsequently. Others make more appeal.

Form: 03F52P

Vinnie Lewis⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: H Whittington| OR: 130

16/1

Returning from a break when finishing 19L fifth in a handicap chase over an extended 3m4f at Plumpton (soft) last time out. Worth a check in the market having placed off a 3lb higher mark at Sandown (3m, soft) last March.

Form: 262-6V5

Ice Cool Champs^t⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 130

9/1

Making his debut for this stable when winning by 10L in a first time tongue tie (retained) over 3m at Wetherby (soft) last month. Strong claims despite racing off a 10lb higher mark on this occasion.

Form: 23/446-1

Cobolobo^b1,t⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 129

9/1

Victorious in a handicap chase over an extended 3m1f at Haydock (soft) in December but failed to replicate that effort when fifth at Newbury (3m2f, soft) later that month. Blinkers tried for the first time in this event.

Form: 23U-P15

Christmas In April^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 129| BF

8/1

Completed a double when winning over an extended 3m4f at Plumpton (soft) early last month and ran well when finishing third in a small field at the same venue on soft ground 15 days later. Notable runner stepping up in distance.

Form: 53-2113

Rathlin Rose^b⁴⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 128

20/1

Put a number of disappointing efforts behind him when finishing third in a handicap chase over an extended 3m4f at Plumpton (soft) last time out. Interesting to see how he fares racing off the same mark in this event,

Form: 679V03

Weststreet⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁵⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 121| D

16/1

Well held behind Christmas In April over an extended 3m4f at Plumpton (soft) last time out and likely more needed if he is to register a victory in this contest.

Form: 311-5P6

Indy Five³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: David Dennis| OR: 121

14/1

Put three non-completions behind him when finishing 31L fourth over an extended 2m7f at Newbury (heavy) last month. Has won off higher marks in the past but has to prove his stamina stepping up in trip.

Form: F/0-PPF4

Belle Empress⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 121| CD

7/2

Followed up a C&D victory on soft ground in December with a 7L fourth to Christmas In April over an extended 3m4f at Plumpton (soft) early last month. Notable runner off a mark 6lb higher than for that C&D success.

Form: 43-6614

Billy Bronco^p⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 120| C

14/1

Recorded his second victory over fences when winning a handicap event over an extended 3m2f at Sedgefield (soft) in November. Pulled up behind Christmas In April subsequently and has a bit to prove at present.

Form: U14-61P

One Of Us²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: S Bowen| T: Nick Williams| OR: 119| CD

15/2

Winner over C&D last April and reigstered his second chase victory when successful over an extended 3m3f at Fontwell (soft) in November. Well held subsequently and races off a mark 2lb higher than for that Fontwell victory.

Form: 221-510

Forecasts

Belle Empress (7/2), Dawson City (9/2), One Of Us (15/2), Christmas In April (8/1), Ice Cool Champs (9/1), Cobolobo (9/1), Perfect Candidate (10/1), Indy Five (14/1), Billy Bronco (14/1), Weststreet (16/1), Vinnie Lewis (16/1), Rathlin Rose (20/1), Regal Flow (28/1), St Erney (33/1)

CHRISTMAS IN APRIL has been in good form this campaign and he can return to winning ways by registering his third victory of the campaign in the days feature Devon National Handicap Chase. The selection can see off his rivals with Ice Cool Champs, a winner on his first start for this yard last time out capable of claiming second spot ahead of Dawson City who has won the last two renewals of this contest.