14:55 Stratford

Monday 14 March 2022

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:40

Bobby Brown Retiral Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 5m 48.67s

Oscar Montel¹⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 122| BF| D

7/2

Opened his account over fences at Worcester in July and largely acquitted himself well in defeat thereafter. Fairly treated on return and warrants respect with Brian Hughes booked.

Form: 122634

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The Cathal Don^t⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Jones| T: J W Mullins| OR: 120

12/1

Fair hurdler and already a better chaser (won a maiden at Tipperary in July). Respectable debut for this yard at Huntingdon but disappointed twice since. Tongue strap back on.

Form: 63136P

Sir Jack Yeats^b⁸⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen| T: R Spencer| OR: 120| D

25/1

Fairly useful chaser but was below his best towards the end of last season and returned with 2 disappointing efforts at the end of 2021. Questions to answer at present.

Form: 3875-9P

Corran Cross⁷⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 119

7/2

Maiden hurdle winner and made seamless transition to fences at Downpatrick in August. In process of setting new personal best when falling 2 out at Wincanton last time and must enter calculations.

Form: 11422F

Esprit De Somoza^p1,t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Chester Williams⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 118

7/1

Back to winning ways at Wincanton in December and stepped up on that form when second in Taunton handicap (23f, good to soft) 20 days ago. One for shortlist. Cheekpieces on first time.

Form: 344132

Family Business^t⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 120

6/1

Justified support when making winning yard debut at Leicester (20.1f) in January. Below that level at same course since but can't be ruled out.

Form: 1-54415

Sussex Ranger^b³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117| D

8/1

Lightly raced and disappointing since scoring at Newbury in early 2020 and makes limited appeal.

Form: 31/7-547

One Forty Seven^v³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr Zac Baker⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 117| C

9/1

Bagged third course victory (all 21f) in October but not been in same form since and visor now back on.

Form: 7-6154C

Al Roc^t³⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 115

16/1

Smart chaser in France who, whilst below that level, ran best race on these shores when third at Plumpton (25.7f) in January. Well held at Chepstow since, however, and returns to shorter trip now.

Form: 5-80P38

Fly Smart⁷⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 112WS

12/1

Bumper winner who failed to meet expectations in a couple of outings for Willie Mullins and ran no sort of race on debut for new yard at Wetherby in December. Tries chasing now. Had wind operation.

Form: 2/59-P

Forecasts

Corran Cross (7/2), Oscar Montel (7/2), Family Business (6/1), Esprit De Somoza (7/1), Sussex Ranger (8/1), One Forty Seven (9/1), Fly Smart (12/1), The Cathal Don (12/1), Al Roc (16/1), Sir Jack Yeats (25/1)

CORRAN CROSS still held every chance when coming down late on at Wincanton last time and remains fairly treated. He gets the nod. Esprit de Somoza and Oscar Montel look the likeliest dangers.