13:34 Wincanton

Saturday 26 December 2020

All12:2512:5913:3414:1014:4515:1915:50

Lord Stalbridge Memorial Cup Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 6m 52.1s

Nearly Perfect²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-3| J: Jack Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: N B King| OR: 127| CD

15/8

Low-mileage 6-y-o who arrives on back of career-best win in 3m handicap chase at Wetherby 21 days ago. Up 5 lb but C&D winner too so he's not taken lightly.

Form: 32/413-1

Realm Keeper²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 122

8/1

Fairly useful ex-French chaser who took a step back in right direction when fourth of 11 in handicap chase over C&D 23 days ago. Still needs to brush up his jumping but no forlorn hope.

Form: 62F/5-74

Broadclyst^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Bryan Carver⁽³⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 118| BF

5/1

Fairly useful chaser at his best but he was pulled up in handicap chase (3/1) over C&D 23 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 85F-73P

Barbrook Star^p¹³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 117| CD

10/1

C&D winner but unreliable sort who was pulled up on return in 3m handicap at Uttoxeter. Yard are going well but others are still lot more persuasive.

Form: 134P3-P

Smuggler's Blues¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: T R George| OR: 117

11/2

Arrives in excellent form, clear second of 8 in handicap chase at Plumpton (25.7f) 19 days ago. Another bold showing is on the cards despite 4 lb rise.

Form: 1/54-522

Sizing Cusimano^p²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 115| BF

7/2

Dual hurdle winner who has showed plenty without winning over fences, not getting home when sixth in 30f handicap chase at Exeter last time. Well worth considering back in trip off reduced mark.

Form: 3632-26

Lac Sacre^b,t³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: R T Dunne| T: J L Flint| OR: 107| D

66/1

Fair 25f winning chaser at his best last term but (25/1) pulled up in 3m handicap chase at Uttoxeter on return. Veteran has plenty to prove.

Form: F/2173-P

Cougar's Gold^p,t⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 105

28/1

Multiple winner during 2018/19 campaign. Ended last term under a cloud though but he wasn't given a hard return when fifth of 7 in 22f Stratford handicap in October. Needs to step forward now.

Form: UP243-5

Non-Runners

Normandy Soldier³⁰

Weight: 11-9| Age: 6

T: R Mitford-Slade J: M G Nolan

Forecasts

Nearly Perfect (15/8), Sizing Cusimano (7/2), Broadclyst (5/1), Smuggler's Blues (11/2), Realm Keeper (8/1), Normandy Soldier (8/1), Barbrook Star (10/1), Cougar's Gold (28/1), Lac Sacre (66/1)

SIZING CUSIMANO has yet to get his head in front over fences but should find conditions ideal here having not got home over a marathon trip at Exeter last time so is fancied to fend off in-form Smuggler's Blues, who rates a big threat on the back of his excellent Plumpton second. C&D scorer Nearly Perfect is another who is sure to make his presence felt in a competitive handicap.