Happy Retirement Captain Nick Lees Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 5m 22.54s

Torigni³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D A Jacob| T: H Whittington| OR: 133| CD

5/2

Useful hurdler who has matched that form over fences, winning 3-runner handicap over C&D in December. Slightly underwhelming when only third of 4 at Hereford 39 days ago and others look less exposed.

Form: 1-03F13

Cut The Mustard^p,t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132| CD

9/2

Did enough to win for the first time in 2 years over C&D 22 days ago, despite looking typically unconvincing at the finish. Only up 2 lb but her unreliable profile doesn't augur well.

Form: 4-P6331

Jacamar^p²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: P J Brennan| T: M F Harris| OR: 131| D

5/4

Off the mark over fences at Kempton on Boxing Day and shaped well when mid-field in stronger races at Warwick and Cheltenham since. Likely to prove competitive from this mark again.

Form: 322155

Yccs Portocervo¹⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 128| BF| D

5/1

Doubled his tally over fences when making all at Uttoxeter (2½m) in June. Held his form well subsequently, though will likely need a career-best to defy this mark after a 149-day absence.

Form: 4-12223

Non-Runners

The Edgar Wallace¹¹³

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: K Bailey & M Nicholls J: David Bass

Forecasts

Jacamar (5/4), The Edgar Wallace (6/4), Torigni (5/2), Cut The Mustard (9/2), Yccs Portocervo (5/1)

THE EDGAR WALLACE is a chaser on looks and confirmed the promise he'd shown over hurdles last term with a cosy victory at Market Rasen on his first go over fences in November. He's open to further improvement and should have enough to defy a 3 lb rise. Jacamar hasn't been disgraced up in grade since winning at Kempton and is the chief threat.