15:50 Wincanton

Thursday 20 January 2022

All13:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:5016:20

Somerset National Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 7m 16.17s

Colorado Doc^h²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: C Brace| T: D Brace| OR: 135

9/1

Notched third success when landing Worcester novice hurdle in October. Good runner-up efforts back chasing at Newbury/Chepstow but failed to stay in Welsh National since and stamina a concern again.

Form: 1-1422P

Quarenta⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Kevin Brogan⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 135

28/1

Has shown some quirks but proved better than ever when scoring on Ascot reappearance last season. However, mixed record after and offered little at Cheltenham on return.

Form: B/193-PP

Destinee Royale¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 132

11/4

Progressive sort, winning 3m Wetherby handicap chase in the mud and nearly defying 9 lb rise at Haydock. Still full of running when falling at Cheltenham on return and remains of interest.

Form: 1/U412-F

Legends Gold¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 131

9/2

Winning hurdler who has reached a useful level over fences, posting 3 good placed efforts this season. Ought to be thereabouts again.

Form: 552-332

Captain Chaos^b⁴⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130

7/1

Produced best effort when narrowly prevailing in Ascot listed handicap in February. Now 5 lb below that winning mark but with good reason having shown little so far this season. Headgear back on.

Form: 414-PPP

Premier D'troice^p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 124

12/1

Fairly useful hurdler who doubled chase tally on yard debut at Newton Abbot (25.7f) in June. Not built on that since however, including when tongue tied after wind op latest.

Form: 1-13475

Favori De Sivola^p,t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: Nick Williams| OR: 121| C

3/1

Took handicaps at Taunton/here last season and resumed after wind op with much-improved wins at Exeter and this course (25.1f) again on Boxing Day. Building up a good strike rate over fences.

Form: 11U4-11

El Paso Wood^t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 114

17/2

Notched up 4-timer in the French Provinces last year. Little to write home about in 3 starts for current yard, held in fourth at Plumpton earlier this month.

Form: 111U54

Forecasts

Destinee Royale (11/4), Favori De Sivola (3/1), Legends Gold (9/2), Captain Chaos (7/1), El Paso Wood (17/2), Colorado Doc (9/1), Premier D'troice (12/1), Quarenta (28/1)

DESTINEE ROYALE was progressive over fences last season and was still full of running and going better than the eventual winner when falling at Cheltenham on her return on New Year's Day. She's almost certainly still on a good mark so remains of interest. Favori de Sivola is also progressive so is feared most as he bids for the hat-trick, with Legends Gold best of the others.