Living North Magazines Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:21 | Winning time: 6m 9.18s

Monbeg Genius^t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 122

3/1

Point winner who tasted success twice in maiden/novice hurdles last term (at up to 23.6f). Lacked sharpness back from 7 months off/following wind op sent chasing at Aintree (19.9f) 33 days ago but feasible to expect improvement.

Form: 2/1431-4

Stylish Moment^t³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 122

33/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser at best for Eoin Doyle. Shaped as if as good as ever on third start for present yard when third over fences at Carlisle (24.5f) in October but not in same form tackling 31.5f at Musselburgh since. Quickly drops back in trip now.

Form: 702F-34

Ladronne^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: T Collier| OR: 118| CD

5/2

Very much regained progressive thread over fences of late, scoring narrowly at Wetherby (19.4f) and relishing the step back up to 25f to follow up at Catterick 3 weeks ago. Unlikely he's finished winning yet on that evidence.

Form: 5-24511

Indian Brave^t⁴⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 117

22/1

Dual chase winner during 2020 and proved he retains plenty of ability back from 2 years off when runner-up at Wetherby (19.4f) in March. However, he was well held when falling 4 out on return at that venue in October. Not the easiest to weigh up.

Form: 2211/2-F

Half Track¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N W Alexander| OR: 113

4/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler who fell first on chase debut at Carlisle in October and again failed to complete (through no fault of his own) when hampered and unseating at Kelso 2 weeks ago. Remains early days at least.

Form: 3134-UU

Who's In The Box^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Charlie Hammond| T: N Kent| OR: 102

10/1

Winless since 2020 and, having been well backed, failed to complete for third time from last 5 starts when falling in race won by Ladronne at Catterick (25.2f) 3 weeks ago. Still, not out of things from this sort of mark.

Form: 3PP2-6F

Bretney^p³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 99

11/4

Pretty reliable since switched to fences and deservedly notched second success in this sphere when accounting for 10 rivals at Hereford (25.2f, good to soft) 4 weeks ago, going on again 4 out and ridden out. Expected to go well again.

Form: 2P22-41

Forecasts

Ladronne (5/2), Bretney (11/4), Monbeg Genius (3/1), Half Track (4/1), Who's In The Box (10/1), Indian Brave (22/1), Stylish Moment (33/1)

LADRONNE arrives here in the form of his life, supplementing October's Wetherby success in good style back up in trip at Catterick 3 weeks ago. He gets the nod to defy a 4 lb higher mark and complete the hat-trick, with Bretney, who also arrives in good, another to consider. Low-mileage Monbeg Genius is also worth a look with his Aintree reappearance run under his belt.