15:15 Kempton

Saturday 20 March 2021

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:05

Virgin Bet Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 5m 2.35s

Falco Blitz²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 141| D

3/1

Has improved with each of his three runs since sent chasing, comfortably landing 2m4f handicap chase at Southwell (15/8) 26 days ago despite nearly coming down 2 out. Should progress further. Player.

Form: 415-521

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Whatswrongwithyou¹¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137

20/1

Dual chase winner in early 2019 but lightly raced and not at his best since. Unseated rider first on return at Newbury in November. Has it to prove after another break. Yard also have Falco Blitz too.

Form: 78/P57-U

Domaine De L'Isle^t⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: K Brogan⁽⁵⁾| T: S Curran| OR: 137| DWS

14/1

Enjoyed a productive time of it over fences last season, completing hat-trick from 2m4f to 3m, but well held this term. Headgear tried at Ascot last time and back from a wind op now.

Form: 5-4P849

Smarty Wild³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 136| BF| CD

7/2

Useful hurdler who got off the mark over fences in C&D handicap in January. Ridden bit too aggressively when good fifth at Warwick only run since so holds solid claims off 1 lb lower mark.

Form: 6-34315

My Way^b,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| CD

4/1

Blinkered and finally got off the mark over fences when making all in C&D handicap three weeks ago. Hit with 9 lb rise but headgear retained and not taken lightly now things have clicked.

Form: 6-14531

Manofthemountain⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Bannister| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 135

10/1

Winner of his first 4 completed starts over fences. Shaped as if still in good form when fourth at Cheltenham but dropped out tamely at Newton Abbot last time. Back from a break with a bit to prove.

Form: 1U1-14P

Mellow Ben²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 134| D

5/1

Right back on song when third to Cap du Nord at Newbury (2m6f) in November. Went off too hard both runs since over 3m here so not discounted off a 1 lb lower mark now.

Form: 55U347

Princeton Royale⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: N B King| OR: 130| D

66/1

Veteran chaser sprung a surprise when successful on return at Stratford (2m6f) but he has been well below par since. Plummeting in the weights but he still needs more.

Form: 153P84

Vinnie The Hoddie¹⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: O Sherwood| OR: 127| D

10/1

Made all to open chase account at Uttoxeter (20f) in September but unable to dominte both runs since. Not the best of jumpers too but he's back on a tempting mark now.

Form: F7-4147

Forecasts

Falco Blitz (3/1), Smarty Wild (7/2), My Way (4/1), Mellow Ben (5/1), Manofthemountain (10/1), Vinnie The Hoddie (10/1), Domaine De L'Isle (14/1), Whatswrongwithyou (20/1), Princeton Royale (66/1)

A case can be made for a few but the most persuasive one is for FALCO BLITZ who is on an upward curve over fences and taken to make light of a 9 lb rise for his stylish Southwell victory. Smarty Wild wasn't seen to best effect when fifth at Warwick so seems sure to be on the premises, with recent C&D scorer My Way and handily-weighted Vinnie The Hoddie also well in the mix in an open handicap.