Browns Zero To Landfill Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:43 | Winning time: 4m 59.02s

Kauto The King^t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 132| D

13/8

Unbeaten in three starts since Joe Tizzard took over as trainer from his father Colin, most recently seeing off his two rivals in thoroughly decisive fashion at Newton Abbot (21f, good). This looks more demanding, but a 4 lb rise is hardly punitive and another bold show is on the cards.

Form: 472-111

Seddon¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Adrian Heskin| T: H Whittington| OR: 129| D

13/2

Doubled his tally over fences at Newton Abbot (21f, good) in April and arguably should have scored again when edged out late on at Cartmel the following month. Failed to fire last time, though, and he's up against two in-form rivals in Kauto The King and Texard.

Form: 721-328

Texard^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Philip Armson⁽⁵⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 123| C

13/8

Successful four times over fences in France and made it third time lucky for present connections here (2m, good) recently. 5 lb rise fair enough and has winning form at around this trip, so he ticks plenty of the right boxes.

Form: 21-2341

Versatility⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: G Sheehan| T: Mrs D O'Neill| OR: 115WS

9/2

Twice a winner for Nicky Henderson, but now finds himself with plenty to prove following a string of inauspicious efforts. Has undergone a second wind op subsequent to his latest appearance in a Warwick handicap hurdle in April.

Form: 0/UP484-

Forecasts

Texard (13/8), Kauto The King (13/8), Versatility (9/2), Seddon (13/2)

Probably best to concentrate on TEXARD and Kauto The King, for all that Seddon is talented on his day and Versatility would be a big player off this mark if able to stage a revival. Kauto The King made it 3-3 since Joe took over the reins from father Colin when scoring in good style at Newton Abbot, but that was not a strong race for the grade and preference is for Texard, who, on the other hand, landed a competitive contest here last time and moving back up in trip is unlikely to be an issue.