15:35 Warwick

Sunday 8 March 2020

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:1016:4017:10

Sloane Helicopters Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 8m 9.2s

Vinnie Lewis^b1¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: D A Jacob| T: H Whittington| OR: 127

20/1

Has winning form over this sort of trip (2017/18 season) and shaped nicely in Sussex National at Plumpton in January; pulled up since at Exeter (3m7f, heavy) and needs to bounce in first-time blinkers.

Form: 62-6V5P

Le Reve^b⁷³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-13| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 126| DWS

28/1

Tends to reserve his peak efforts for soft ground around Sandown, though has also won at Lingfield over this trip last year from 1lb lower. Went well in veterans' race at former track on reappearance but backwards steps in two runs since.

Form: 148-35P

Dancing Shadow^b⁶⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: James Best| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 122

33/1

Won the Edinburgh National (4m1f, good) in 2017 but long time without a win now; has not built on promising Exeter comeback in November (second over 3m, soft) and likely can be opposed once more.

Form: 244-25P

Belle Empress¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 120| BF

5/1

Exeter winner in December over marathon trip in soft ground and commendable efforts since in Sussex and Devon Nationals; no queries on ground/trip and likely will give another solid account of herself.

Form: 3-66143

Court Liability^p¹¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| OR: 120WS

22/1

Second to Battleoverdoyen in Irish point-to-point in 2017 before winning first four under rules (three hurdles). Unconvincing both starts over regulation fences this season and needs to improve for wind operation since last spotted.

Form: 14P9-44

Alminar^b,t⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 119

6/1

Progressive chaser; posted a career-best when scoring for the second time over fences (Chepstow 2m7½f, heavy) in January, beating Troed Y Melin by 5L; 7lb higher in a more competitive race but leading contender if stamina holds out.

Form: 8431-31

Fleminport^b1⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 119

7/2

0-7 over fences but mostly jumping well and competitive of late, stable in good form and may have a big say if relishing the further examination of his depths of stamina.

Form: 24-8854

Goodnight Charlie^b⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Bridget Andrews| T: C Fryer| OR: 116| CD

14/1

Pulled up in Grade 3 Classic Chase here on penultimate start and 20L down in race won by High Counsel over 3m1f next time. Mare remains 8lb clear of mark she won this from last year but would be a danger if in that mood again.

Form: 1-35PP6

Echo Watt^h¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: W T Kennedy| T: R Hobson| OR: 115

5/1

Has taken very well to chasing with two wins in three starts; most impressive of those at Uttoxeter (3m, heavy; 4-1f) last month in middle outing. Easily toughest test to date but shapes as though he'll stay and thoroughly unexposed in this arena.

Form: 8P9-211

Book of Gold⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: O Sherwood| OR: 115| C

12/1

Heavy ground winner over 3m here on penultimate start (sole win under rules so far) but pulled up next time at Wincanton and improvement to find whilst proving stamina here.

Form: 603-01P

Lord In Red^p⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁵⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 113

16/1

Runner-up behind High Counsel here in January over 3m1½f, disproving theory he's best on a quick surface; much better off on these terms with re-opposing rival and threatens to be suited by this longer trip.

Form: 121PP2

Cyclop^p,t³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 110| C

25/1

Runner-up in Lincolnshire National on Boxing Day at Market Rasen (won that race in 2017); though typically followed that up with pulled up effort in January at Wincanton, continuing recent trend of being unreliable.

Form: PP-532P

Western Climate³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 109

8/1

On long losing run but finds himself on a handy mark as a result. Good test of stamina suits ideally and the predicted ground shouldn't be much of an issue. No surprise if he's on the premises after string of decent efforts this season.

Form: P-F3233

High Counsel^p³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 107| C

20/1

11-years-old but found a new lease of life with hat-trick of wins (two here) during December/January; pulled up since at Bangor when upped to this sort of trip from current mark and questions linger as to whether he'll see this out.

Form: 32111P

Non-Runners

Spider's Bite⁷⁰

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: H D Daly J: R Johnson

Zerachiel⁷³

Weight: 11-4| Age: 10

T: Ian Williams J: C J Todd

Forecasts

Fleminport (7/2), Belle Empress (5/1), Echo Watt (5/1), Alminar (6/1), Western Climate (8/1), Book of Gold (12/1), Goodnight Charlie (14/1), Zerachiel (16/1), Lord In Red (16/1), Spider's Bite (16/1), Vinnie Lewis (20/1), High Counsel (20/1), Court Liability (22/1), Cyclop (25/1), Le Reve (28/1), Dancing Shadow (33/1)

ECHO WATT has really taken to chasing and is progressing quickly. He defied a drop in trip with a gutsy Fontwell win last time and his previous Uttoxeter score (3m) certainly offers plenty hope this searching test of stamina will be right for him. He can defy the assessor again to continue a hot streak for trainer Richard Hobson. Lord In Red can turn around course form with High Counsel as they go up in trip, while Western Climate has been very consistent this season and should run his race. Belle Empress, Alminar and Fleminport are all worth considering – though the latter duo have stamina to prove in this marathon.