On Track Off Course: racingwelfare.co.uk/podcast Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 6m 28.8s

As You Like⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 122| CD

5/1

Tends to peak during the summer, as he did last year when adding to his tally at Southwell. Little impact on last 7 starts, but has slipped to a dangerous mark and the drying ground here will help.

Form: 0P48P5

Manwell^t¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 120

16/1

Had wind op and best effort for a while when scoring at Sedgefield in December. Held every chance when running out at the fourth-last at Haydock (25.6f, good to firm) since and he needs considering.

Form: 4345-1R

William Of Orange^p,t¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 119| D

15/2

Back on the scoresheet at Catterick last month, but wasn't in anything like the same form at Sedgefield recently. Cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 93P-313

Antony^b1¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117| D

9/1

Runner-up on each of his last 3 completed starts, but it's been almost 3 years since he last struck gold and hopes pinned on first-time blinkers helping to eke out a bit more here.

Form: U5-22P2

Mr Mafia¹⁷⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-9| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 117| CD

22/1

Veteran who scored 3 times over fences in 2019, including twice over this C&D. Ran no sort of a race at Kempton when last seen in October, but it wouldn't be a major surprise were he to bounce back.

Form: 02425P

First Class Return^p,t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: O Murphy| OR: 117| CD

8/11

Much improved since going back up in trip and arrives on a hat-trick following back-to-back C&D wins last month. Handicapper has had his say, but this 8-y-o should prove hard to beat nonetheless.

Form: 092211

Primal Focus^t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 102

18/1

Landed a second chase win at Exeter in October 2019, but seen out just twice since and was never in the hunt on recent reappearance at Wincanton.

Form: 04719-7

Forecasts

First Class Return (8/11), As You Like (5/1), William Of Orange (15/2), Antony (9/1), Manwell (16/1), Primal Focus (18/1), Mr Mafia (22/1)

FIRST CLASS RETURN is now 16 lb higher than for the first of his two wide-margin C&D victories last month, but he's clearly at the top of his game and is taken to complete the hat-trick. The one for the forecast could be Manwell, who surely would've gone close had he not ran out at Haydock recently. As You Like will appreciate the drying ground and is also considered off a reduced mark.