15:55 Market Rasen

Saturday 25 September 2021

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0017:35

Golden Fleece Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:57 | Winning time: 5m 25.5s

Prince Escalus¹⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 130| CD

5/1

Scored over hurdles here in March before below-par third of 4 at Kempton (21f) 159 days ago. Goes chasing now after a break and he can't be dismissed.

Form: 142513-

Gortroe Joe¹³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 129| CD

6/1

C&D winner who has been off since good second over hurdles at Perth (20f) in May. Weighted to go well if back fully tuned up now.

Form: 13632-2

Royal Village^p³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 127| CD

6/1

3-time C&D winner who posted creditable third of 9 in handicap at Worcester (23f, good) 38 days ago. Can give another good account eased 2 lb now.

Form: P-38173

Oscar Montel^b³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 125

4/1

Opened his account over fences at Worcester in July and runner-up in 23f handicap there 34 days ago. Still low mileage, so he's well worth considering off 3 lb lower mark here.

Form: 2-23122

Louis' Vac Pouch¹¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Ross Chapman| T: P A Kirby| OR: 120| BF| CD

14/1

Winless over fences since 2019, and only seventh of 8 in handicap at Kelso (26.2f, good) in May. Has won off a break but more is needed.

Form: 7794-57

Buster Thomas⁹⁷

7/2

In frame both starts this term, needing stronger gallop when fourth of 8 in handicap at Worcester (20f, good to soft) 97 days ago, Since had a wind op and not dismissed if it sparks a resurgence.

Form: 32P3-34

Luckofthedraw^h²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: J J Burke| T: T Bulgin| OR: 115| CD

22/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2019, and he came in last of 4 in handicap at Sedgefield (21f) 23 days ago on final run for Nigel Twiston-Davies. Landed this contest in 2019 though so no forlorn hope.

Form: 63646-4

Flamboyant Joyaux¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Ryan Mania| T: Paul Robson| OR: 114

9/2

Made it 2-3 for new yard in 21.6f handicap chase at Kelso (6/4) 10 days ago. Progressing well recently, so in the mix despite another 5 lb rise.

Form: 289-511

Forecasts

Buster Thomas (7/2), Oscar Montel (4/1), Flamboyant Joyaux (9/2), Prince Escalus (5/1), Gortroe Joe (6/1), Royal Village (6/1), Louis' Vac Pouch (14/1), Luckofthedraw (22/1)

OSCAR MONTEL has made a good start to life over fences and may still have more to offer with few miles on the clock so he looks the way to go. Hat-trick seeking Flamboyant Joyaux hasn't looked back for his current yard and is feared most despite having a career-high mark to overcome, although the returning Gortroe Joe is weighted to have a big say too if fully tuned up.