16:52 Taunton

Thursday 7 April 2022

All13:2714:0214:3515:1015:4516:2016:5217:25

Grand National Lunch Here On Saturday Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:53 | Winning time: 6m 4.51s

Lifeisahighway^t⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Luca Morgan⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 98

15/2

Arrives out of sorts, seventh of 10 in handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (19.8f) 57 days ago. Switches to chasing and others more persuasive.

Form: 72-42P7

Helford River^t¹⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 97WS

11/1

Already looks a better chaser than hurdler, scoring at Newton Abbot and Fontwell in the autumn. Off since good third at latter track in October and had a wind op so he can't be ruled out.

Form: 273113

Queen Of The Court²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Archie Bellamy⁽⁷⁾| T: J G Cann| OR: 93| BF| CD

5/1

C&D winner in February who wasn't disgraced when fifth of 9 in handicap chase at Huntingdon (23.6f) 22 days ago. Enters calculations eased 1 lb now.

Form: 741315

Minella Voucher^p,t²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: R P McLernon| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 91

22/1

Back from a break in poor form, remote fifth in handicap hurdle here (19f, 66/1) 24 days ago. Reverts to fences with cheekpieces back on and something to prove.

Form: 2-22PP5

Theatre Mix³³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: James Best| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 88

5/1

Consistent sort who came in third of 14 in handicap chase at Worcester (20f) when last seen on the track 11 months ago. Has gone well fresh though, so she needs considering.

Form: 55244-3

Ballycorr^v¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 81

9/1

Visored for 1st time and not discredited on just his second start in this sphere when fourth of 10 in handicap chase at Chepstow (19.4f) 18 days ago. Not ruled out off a 4 lb lower mark now.

Form: 84F864

Timely Gift^p,t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 79| D

13/8

Cheekpieces on for 1st time and improved on recent efforts to win 12-runner handicap chase at Chepstow (23.6f) 14 days ago, forging clear from last. Up 7 lb but well in the mix with headgear retained.

Form: 693331

Cobra Commander¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: T Symonds| OR: 74

12/1

Remains a maiden after 17 runs, and pulled up in handicap chase at Chepstow (19.4f) 18 days ago. Hard to make a case for.

Form: 233-7PP

Forecasts

Timely Gift (13/8), Queen Of The Court (5/1), Theatre Mix (5/1), Lifeisahighway (15/2), Ballycorr (9/1), Helford River (11/1), Cobra Commander (12/1), Minella Voucher (22/1)

TIMELY GIFT showed the benefit of cheekpieces when a stylish Chepstow scorer a fortnight ago and is taken to follow up here with the headgear again in place on Tim Vaughan's low-mileage chaser. C&D winner Queen of The Court is next on the list ahead of the returning Theatre Mix, who is weighted to have a say if fully tuned up after her absence.