16:45 Wetherby

Monday 2 March 2020

All14:0014:3515:1015:4016:1516:45

Bet At racingtv.com Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 6m 59.90s

Alberto's Dream²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 12-1| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 102| D

22/1

Rose through the ranks by winning four on the bounce (2m6½f-3m5½f) for Tom Lacey during a stellar March of 2018; relatively low-key in three starts for Katy Price this season but could be more competitive against this opposition.

Form: 2/75-584

Newberry New^p³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Cook| T: W Bethell| OR: 99| C

18/1

8lb lower than when winning with any amount in hand at Newcastle (2m7½f, heavy) last March; pulled-up in two of his three starts here this season; needs to demonstrate a renewed vigour for racing.

Form: 1-7P57P

Smuggler's Stash^v⁶⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 93| D

16/1

Renowned mudlark; hasn't seen a massive amount of racing since winning back-to-back races at Ayr (3m, soft/heavy) early in 2018 - stable had virus-related issues last season; fairly weighted if able to recapture some positive form.

Form: 143/3P4

Purple Harry^p,t⁵¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: Ross Chapman| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 92| D

40/1

Enigmatic, yet capable veteran; was beaten just a neck by Inchcolm at Newcastle (2m7½f, gd/sft) last April; well below that level of form in two starts this season; essentially is difficult to enthuse over.

Form: 8P12-P5

Spirit Of Hale^t,v¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 89| D

5/1

Always prominent when taking full advantage of an easing handicap mark to score by an emphatic 16L from the hat-trick seeking Sign Of War at Sedgefield (3m2½f, heavy) 11 days ago; rates as a major player despite an 11lb weights rise.

Form: P-45481

Sigurd^t,v1²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 87| CD

7/1

Broke his duck over fences when beating the frustrating Hard Knocks by 4½L over C&D (soft) on Boxing Day; ran okay next time (third) before a lacklustre effort at Uttoxeter (was disinterested from an early stage); a visor is hastily applied.

Form: 53413P

The Dawn Man⁷³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Scudamore| OR: 83| D

2/1

14-race maiden (0-6 over fences); runner-up over hurdles for Henry Oliver at Southwell (1m7½f, gd/sft) last March; 0-3 thereafter for Claire Dyson and another of the Mark Dunphy-owned horses to make their way into the care of Michael Scudamore.

Form: 442-P65

Rollerball Rocco^b²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: C T Pogson| OR: 79| D

15/2

Without a win since making all to score at Uttoxeter (3m, heavy) in December 2018; hasn't been seeing out his races this season (often jumping moderately to boot) and on that basis simply can't be the advice.

Form: 663544

Ector^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 77

6/1

11-race maiden (0-4 over fences); has shown some minor promise over the larger obstacles this season (twice placed); gradually had his heart broken by the relentless Echo Watt at Uttoxeter (3m, heavy) 23 days ago; more appealing than most.

Form: P-F8263

Westerner Ocean^p⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 71

16/1

Nine-race maiden; has shown few recommendable traits over fences (0-4); weakened tamely from four out when pulled-up at odds of 20-1 at Exeter (3m½f, heavy) six weeks ago; look elsewhere for the solution.

Form: 8-0545P

Non-Runners

Trimmers Lane²⁸

Weight: 10-11| Age: 10

T: Micky Hammond J: Alain Cawley

Forecasts

The Dawn Man (2/1), Spirit Of Hale (5/1), Ector (6/1), Sigurd (7/1), Rollerball Rocco (15/2), Smuggler's Stash (16/1), Westerner Ocean (16/1), Newberry New (18/1), Trimmers Lane (20/1), Alberto's Dream (22/1), Purple Harry (40/1)

Ector makes more appeal than most in a perfectly winnable finale, while the likes of Alberto's Dream and Smuggler's Stash are highly unlikely to be found wanting for stamina reserves in what could well be virtually unraceable conditions. Nevertheless, despite an 11lb weights rise for a recent Sedgefield romp, the standout form-based contender is the Jennie Candlish-trained SPIRIT OF HALE who really ought to prove difficult to beat if in anything remotely near similar form.