Virgin Bet Handicap Chase (For The Alanbrooke Challenge Cup)

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 6m 42.0s

Musical Slave³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 130

7/2

Had breathing operation before good third of 9 in handicap chase at Exeter (24.2f) 37 days ago. Can give another good account if his jumping holds up.

Form: 5U399-3

Potters Legend^v⁴⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: J M Quinlan| T: L Wadham| OR: 127| D

10/1

Veteran comes her in decent nick, visored when fifth of 11 in handicap chase at Cheltenham (26.3f) 47 days ago, making effort earlier than ideal. Not the best of jumpers but still needs considering.

Form: 61-65P5

Poppa Poutine²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 126| BF| D

85/40

Dual hurdle winner last term who posted good second of 7 in handicap chase at Wincanton (25.1f) 28 days ago, just failing. Still low mileage over fences, so he ought to be competitive again.

Form: 161-482

Dr Kananga^t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Jones| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 125| D

6/5

Point winner who arrives firmly on the up, impressively making all in 26f Chepstow handicap 13 days ago. Has 12 lb hike to overcome but he still looks the one to beat.

Form: 43-1251

Non-Runners

Laskalin²⁵

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: Miss V Williams J: Charlie Deutsch

Illegal Model²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: C E Longsdon J: Non Runner

A Toi Phil²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 12

T: G & J Moore J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Dr Kananga (6/5), Poppa Poutine (85/40), Musical Slave (7/2), Laskalin (7/2), Potters Legend (10/1), Illegal Model (10/1), A Toi Phil (20/1)

A case can be made for a few of these, but the lightly-raced DR KANANGA arrives very much on an upward curve and is hard to side against after his most taking Chepstow success. Venetia Williams' Laskalin is weighted to go well, with in-form Poppa Poutine not without a chance either.