Vickers.Bet Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 6m 30.51s

Kalooki^b²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 134| C| D

5/1

Resumed winning ways in a 3m Doncaster handicap over Christmas but has subsequently lost his way and now has a fair bit to prove.

Form: 15P6P-P

Chirico Vallis^p,t²⁴⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 132| D

5/1

Landed a good pot at Chepstow last October before finishing third in the Classic Chase at Warwick and a Doncaster veterans' handicap. Pulled up with first-time cheekpieces enlisted (retained here) in the Scottish National on final start of last season but this is easier and he goes well fresh.

Form: 2/5133P-

Indy Five²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-11| J: Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: David Dennis| OR: 131| D

7/1

Dual winner last season, namely handicaps over 3m+ at Doncaster and Newbury. Showed the benefit of his reappearance run when fourth in a Grade 3 handicap at Cheltenham 20 days ago and he's high on the shortlist off 1 lb lower here.

Form: 21P-274

Burrows Diamond³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 127

7/2

Off the mark over fences at Newcastle in January and followed up 3 weeks later at Uttoxeter. However, well held on final start of last season and he didn't show much on his reappearance this time round at Carlisle, even allowing for the fact that he faced a stiff task at the weights there.

Form: 41125-6

The Vollan^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Patrick Cowley⁽³⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 124| D

14/1

In fine fettle back over fences this year, registering fourth victory of 2022 when landing a 4-runner Kelso handicap in October. Appears to have gone off the boil judged on his last 2 starts, though, and it's probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: 125177

Shanty Alley^p²⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: B I Case| OR: 120| DWS

6/1

Progressive over fences during 2020/21 campaign but offered little last season (pulled up all 3 starts) and needs to bounce back in a major way following an 8-month break (has underone wind surgery in the interim).

Form: 123/UPP-

Grange Ranger²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Jack Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 113| CD

3/1

Little to shout about in a handful of appearances last season but looked on good terms with himself when making a winning reappearance over this C&D 3 weeks ago. However, his overall profile is hardly compelling and now 4 lb higher in a stronger race.

Form: 2/36PF-1

Forecasts

Grange Ranger (3/1), Burrows Diamond (7/2), Chirico Vallis (5/1), Kalooki (5/1), Shanty Alley (6/1), Indy Five (7/1), The Vollan (14/1)

The vote goes to CHIRICO VALLIS, who didn't exactly end last season on a high but landed a competitive Chepstow handicap on his reappearance off just a 2 lb lower mark last October and his record when fresh augurs well. Indy Five is a much-respected main danger on the back of a creditable display at Cheltenham and his form figures when partnered by Jack Andrews read 122. The others all have questions marks hanging over them for one reason or another, including recent C&D winner Grange Ranger.