Legend Of The Saltire Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 17.95s

Bootlegger^t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: B S Hughes| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 122

6/4

Fairly useful hurdles winner who arrives having run his best race to date over fences when third in a novices' handicap at Market Rasen (23.8f) 18 days ago. Rates a likely player with a repeat.

Form: 13-9463

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Theatre World^p1¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: R T Dunne| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 119

3/1

Dual hurdles winner (at 22f) who ran up to previous best over fences when fourth at Punchestown (24.5f) in October. Not disgraced over hurdles since but present mark may well be the sticking point.

Form: 385-446

King's Wharf^p¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 114

7/1

Ended long losing run in good style at Hexham (20f) in October and backed that up when second from much-inflated mark at Carlisle (20f) next time. Below par latest but bounce back not ruled out.

Form: 2-33125

Gun Merchant^p²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 110

25/1

Fair sort over hurdles who wasn't wholly convincing with his jumping in 2 chase tries for Gordon Elliott. Probably best not judged too harshly on recent yard debut and this should reveal more.

Form: 564337

Henry's Joy^b¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 109| C

9/2

Got back on track returned to fences when second at Sedgefield in September. Unseated at Bangor (3m) next time but not disgraced over timber latest. Mark has eased and refitting of blinkers may help.

Form: 0-232U6

Izzy's Champion^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 103| C

17/2

Fair winner over fences here (20.3f) in January and arrives here fit from a pair of hurdle spins in recent months. Remains low-mileage in this sphere and mark remains workable on balance.

Form: 2P12-04

Forecasts

Bootlegger (6/4), Theatre World (3/1), Henry's Joy (9/2), King's Wharf (7/1), Izzy's Champion (17/2), Gun Merchant (25/1)

Having been given a chance by the assessor, BOOTLEGGER showed form akin to the pick of his exploits over timber when third at Market Rasen 18 days ago, keeping on from 2 out. He earns the vote to back that up again partnered by Brian Hughes. Henry's Joy, in refitted blinkers, and Izzy's Champion, reverting to chasing, head up the dangers.