BioWaveGo Portman Cup Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 7m 27.03s

Yala Enki⁶⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-6| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 159| CD

4/6

Tremendous stayer who was expertly prepared to land 5-runner Grade 3 handicap at Cheltenham in November. Going for a hat-trick in this race and will take all the beating on these advantageous terms.

Form: F314U-1

Coup De Pinceau^p³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: James Best| T: H Brown| OR: 125| CD

50/1

Hit the target for Nick Mitchell over this C&D in March 2021. Struggled to match that form since and looks up against it in this company.

Form: 8-80386

Elegant Escape^p²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 150

9/1

Welsh National winner in 2018. Hard to know how much ability he retains these days, runner-up in 2021 version at Chepstow but this less-demanding environment will help. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 36P0/7P

Full Back²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 139

3/1

Won small-field novice chases at Plumpton and Exeter last winter. Excuses first 2 starts back this term and as good as ever for latest success at Cheltenham 3 weeks ago. This trip sure to suit.

Form: 1P2-781

Ramses De Teillee^t²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 144

8/1

Second to Elegant Escape in 2018 Welsh National. November's Haydock fourth shows he's still capable of smart form but he was brushed aside pretty readily at Chepstow last month.

Form: 049-34P

Forecasts

Yala Enki (4/6), Full Back (3/1), Ramses De Teillee (8/1), Elegant Escape (9/1), Coup De Pinceau (50/1)

Despite his advancing years, YALA ENKI remains capable of very smart form, as displayed at Cheltenham in November, and he's strongly fancied to concede 4 lb to these and make it 3 wins in a row in this race. With Elegant Escape hard to weigh up at present, Full Back looks the main threat.