Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 6m 18.45s

Irish Prophecy^p,t1³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 135

6/1

Now below his last winning mark, gained at Wincanton in October so cannot be ruled out from a handicapping perspective. Isn't the most reliable though, folding pretty tamely at Worcester a month ago. Tongue tie added to usual cheekpieces.

Form: 51P-4P5

Soldier Of Love^p⁹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 132

9/2

Prolific in 2020 and having been given 11 weeks off since a laboured effort at Doncaster in February, made the most of a good opportunity to land 3-runner hunter at Fontwell. Excellent second a Worcester a month later and joined another excellent yard from Paul Nicholls.

Form: P/U2P-12

Organdi³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: R T Phillips| OR: 132

5/1

Exeter winner from 4 lb lower in October and best effort since when a keeping-on third at Worcester a month ago. That is solid form so he warrants serious consideration.

Form: 134-U63

Little Bruce^p,t⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Lily Pinchin⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 130

5/2

Runner up in 2021 Summer Cup at Uttoxeter and off 11 months, he shaped as though retaining all of his ability from his reduced mark when second back at hat venue in July, going with plenty of enthusiasm.

Form: 0P/28P-2

Sizing Cusimano^b,t1¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 129

16/1

Better than ever when wide-margin winner over fences at Newton Abbot in May but gone backwards since, including over hurdles. Tongue tie added to usual headgear.

Form: 26-1P95

El Paso Wood^b,t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 128

5/1

Heavily campaigned since joining this yard from France and now chases a hat-trick on the back of a brace of small-field wins in recent weeks. This is a deeper race but he's clearly in top form.

Form: 562211

Bbold^b³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 127| C

15/2

Back to winning ways in 5-runner handicap chase at Southwell (25.8f) in May, value for a bit extra given he idled. Merely plugged on at Worcester last month and stable not in top form at present.

Form: 3/215-14

Forecasts

Little Bruce (5/2), Soldier Of Love (9/2), Organdi (5/1), El Paso Wood (5/1), Irish Prophecy (6/1), Bbold (15/2), Sizing Cusimano (16/1)

Sam Twiston-Davies got a good tune out of ORGANDI when she was third in a valuable handicap at Worcester a month ago and, with this step back up in trip promising to suit, she could be the answer. Soldier of Love lurks on a good mark, and while he's left Paul Nicholls, he has joined another excellent stable. He's feared most, with El Paso Wood also of interest in his hat-trick bid.