Happy Birthday Julian Watson Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 6m 52.30s

Guetapan Collonges²²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 120| BF

11/4

Gradual progress over fences last term, scoring at Wetherby and Market Rasen in January/February. Fell when odds-on for a match when last seen in March, though, and will need to have his wits about him jumping-wise round here back from a 7-month break.

Form: 1/5311F-

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Fairlawn Flyer²⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 120

7/1

Just a modest hurdler but proved a different proposition switched to fences last winter, winning a trio of 3m Ffos Las handicap chases. Fitness has to be taken to trust following 8 months off but likely he has more to offer in this sphere.

Form: 184111-

Rocky's Treasure^p¹⁷⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 120

9/1

Well-handicapped judged on past exploits (latest success at Doncaster in December 2020 was off an 18 lb higher mark) but he's none too reliable and was beaten a long way out at Southwell when last seen in May.

Form: 25662-5

Boughtbeforelunch^p¹⁷⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: R P McLernon| T: P R Webber| OR: 117

11/1

Put in an assured round of jumping when resuming winning ways at Leicester (22.7f, soft) in February. Flattered by his proximity to the winner when runner-up at Southwell on final run of last season but he was clear of the rest and remains on a fair mark.

Form: P3153-2

Favori De Sivola^t²²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 117| D

16/5

Quick off the blocks last season, scoring at Exeter and Wincanton on first 2 starts of that campaign. Beaten a fair way when third upped to 30.6f at Chepstow on latest start in March but resumes on a 2 lb lower mark and this drop back in trip should help.

Form: 4/11453-

Reilly²²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 115

5/2

Improved when opening hurdles account at the fifth attempt at Wetherby (19.7f, good to soft) in March, displaying a good turn of foot in the process. That form is hardly solid, though, and needs to raise his game now switched to fences.

Form: 2/22441-

Forecasts

Reilly (5/2), Guetapan Collonges (11/4), Favori De Sivola (16/5), Fairlawn Flyer (7/1), Rocky's Treasure (9/1), Boughtbeforelunch (11/1)

FAVORI DE SIVOLA gets the nod in this tricky-looking contest. It could be that this is the time of year to catch him (winner of sole start in November last year and in 2020, returning from a break on each occasion) and he appears to be versatile ground-wise. Fairlawn Flyer is 3-3 over fences and has to be respected but he could do with plenty of rain, while Guetapan Collonges' jumping isn't foot-perfect and Reilly needs to improve now tackling fences. Boughtbeforelunch is therefore feared most.