Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 3m 47.51s

(4)

Nicholas T^h⁸²

Age: 10| Weight: 9-12| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 99| CD

6/1

Northumberland Plate winner over C&D last summer and got back to that sort of form when landing a C&D conditions event in December. Top weight but good course record means he can't be discounted.

Form: 300771-

(5)

Imperium^p³³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: R Kingscote| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 96| D

9/2

Made it 6 wins from only 8 starts on AW when seeing off 3 rivals at Kempton (2m) in January. Didn't look all out so a further 3 lb rise may not stop him going in again.

Form: 11/01-31

(1)

Zeeband^v¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Oliver Stammers⁽³⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 96| CD

7/2

Won Northumberland Vase over C&D for Roger Varian last June. Second outing for new yard when scoring at Wolverhampton last month. Ought to be competitive again.

Form: 2/310-51

(6)

Nate The Great¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 92| BF

5/1

Useful and consistent sort who was 2¼ lengths third of 4 to Zeeband in handicap at Wolverhampton 17 days ago. Enjoys a 3 lb pull in the weights with that one so there shouldn't be much between them.

Form: 7042-23

(3)

Ecco^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Megan Nicholls| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 89| D

20/1

Pretty useful hurdler for this yard. Formerly useful on the Flat in Germany and won an AW jumpers' bumper last winter. Top jumps stable's Flat runners always respected.

Form: 46160/

(2)

Onesmoothoperator¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 89| BF| C

7/4

Course winner. 13/8, creditable second of 6 in handicap at this course (12.5f) 16 days ago, unsuited by emphasis on speed. This longer trip could play to his strengths. Player.

Form: 2221-22

Forecasts

Onesmoothoperator (7/4), Zeeband (7/2), Imperium (9/2), Nate The Great (5/1), Nicholas T (6/1), Ecco (20/1)

A useful contest featuring last year's Northumberland Plate/Vase winners, but they are opposed with IMPERIUM who has built up an excellent AW record and might be able to defy the handicapper again. There could be more to come from Onesmoothoperator now stepping up to 2m so he's put up as the main danger.