13:50 Wincanton

Saturday 5 November 2022

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:05

61st Badger Beer Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:58 | Winning time: 6m 15.46s

Frodon^t²³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 158| C| DWS

9/4

Top-class front-running chaser under this rider, gaining a third Grade 1 success at Down Royal last autumn. Not at his best in 3 subsequent outings last season but has good record fresh and potential class act for top stable with excellent record in this. Has had a breathing operation.

Form: 51/1470-

Potterman¹⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 149

22/1

Second in this 12 months ago and got his head back in front at Kelso in March. Pulled up in Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on final start but capable of bouncing back on reappearance.

Form: P2PP1P-

Enrilo¹⁹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143| CWS

4/1

Took well to fences in 2020/21. Failed to complete in 3 of his 4 outings last season but he was fourth in a valuable contest at Kempton (3m) in February. Perhaps not one for maximum faith but he's on a feasible mark and has gone well fresh before. Has had breathing surgery.

Form: 1D/FP4P-

El Presente^v1²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 142| CD

40/1

In fine form in the second half of 2020, winning 4 times, culminating with a narrow victory in this race. However, lightly raced since and a recent pulled-up effort at Chepstow raises major doubts as to whether he's still the force of old. First-time visor needs to make a big difference.

Form: 134/F5-P

Neville's Cross¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 142

28/1

Better than ever when forging clear to land 7-runner handicap chase at Bangor in July but found out in a higher grade at Cheltenham since and this looks even stronger.

Form: 2-1831P

Irish Prophecy^p,t⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 136| C

17/2

Won here last autumn and took a step back in the right direction with a first-time tongue tie added to his regular cheekpieces (combination retained) when narrowly denied at Warwick in September. On a tempting mark.

Form: 1P-4P52

Lord Accord^p,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 136| D

5/1

Useful chaser who took advantage of some leniency from the handicapper when seeing off 8 rivals at Cheltenham (25f) last month. Back up 5 lb but he did win off this mark last season. Considered.

Form: 13P-531

Red Happy^b,t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 130| C

17/2

French import who landed a sixth win since March when seeing off 3 rivals at Exeter last month but all those victories were gained in fields of 6 or less and he has more on his plate in this much deeper race.

Form: 135121

Cap Du Nord^p²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 130

10/1

Capitalised on a good mark in a valuable 3m event at Kempton in February. Remote fifth on Chepstow reappearance last month but should be sharper for the run and his stable is a force to be reckoned with in valuable handicap chases. 2 lb out of weights.

Form: 831P5-5

Golden Taipan^t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130

40/1

Won twice at Perth (at up to 3m) in June. Back to form when second at Warwick in September but performed no more than respectably when fourth of 5 back there since. First-time blinkers worn last time are discarded. Work to do.

Form: 211724

Rocco^p²²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128| CD

28/1

Ended losing run when popping up at odds of 40/1 in this race 12 months ago, seeing off the reopposing Potterman. Lost his way badly later but he's effectively running off a 2 lb lower mark than last year despite being out of the handicap. Wouldn't dismiss.

Form: 241PP5-

Non-Runners

Slipway¹⁹⁷

Weight: 10-3| Age: 7

T: B Pauling J: Non Runner

Milanford³⁵⁷

Weight: 10-2| Age: 8

T: S Hosie J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Frodon (9/4), Enrilo (4/1), Lord Accord (5/1), Red Happy (17/2), Irish Prophecy (17/2), Cap Du Nord (10/1), Slipway (12/1), Potterman (22/1), Rocco (28/1), Neville's Cross (28/1), El Presente (40/1), Golden Taipan (40/1), Milanford (66/1)

FRODON had an official rating of 167 after winning a Down Royal Grade 1 on his reappearance last season. His three subsequent runs were underwhelming but he could just be a notch above this opposition if bouncing back to anywhere his best after a breathing operation. Lord Accord was an easy winner at Cheltenham last month and is feared most ahead of last year's runner-up Potterman.