13:30 Kelso

Sunday 15 January 2023

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

racingtv.com/freetrial Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:36 | Winning time: 6m 6.13s

Fortified Bay^v²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 12-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 117

20/1

In good form when fitted with a visor in spring 2021, winning at Newcastle and posting good second at Haydock. Missed all of last term, though, and has pulled up on both outings since hs return, so he has lots to prove at present.

Form: 2P1/2-PP

Thatsy^t³⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 115WS

10/1

Useful hurdler at best in Ireland. Remains winless after 12 starts over fences and others are preferred again on his return from 11 months off the track.

Form: 247262-

Velasco^h⁸⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: D B Hurst⁽⁷⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 112

9/1

Twice runner-up for Tom Lacey last season but his jumping become an increased issue and that problem has again been on show in 2 starts for his current yard this term. Others are easier to make a case for.

Form: 2525-46

Crixus's Escape^p,t²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 112| CD

16/1

Good second here on his final outing last term but has shown little in pair of starts this season, running a moody race and beaten long way out at Newcastle last time. Hard to fancy on recent showings.

Form: P2P2-7P

Touch Kick⁴¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-11| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: S G West| OR: 112

12/1

Useful chaser at best for Paul Nicholls. Remains 20 lb below his last winning mark and produced his best effort this yard when second of 7 in handicap chase (10/1) at Musselburgh (23.8f, soft) 41 days ago. Solid place claims again.

Form: 84/5532

Dragonfruit^v1⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Toby Wynne⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 110

2/1

Back to his best when second of 6 in handicap chase at Sedgefield (26.9f, soft) on return in November. Yard having good season and he's shortlisted with visor applied 1st time.

Form: 2P45U-2

Deep Charm^t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 103

5/1

Improved sent chasing last term, off the mark at Hexham in December. Shaped well for long way on his return here 42 days ago before folding tamely (possible physical issue) and he's respected if the none the worse.

Form: 212P4-P

Straight Swap¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Dowson| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 102

11/1

Strong at the finish when landing 4-runner handicap chase at Hexham (20.1f) in September but has pulled up on his last 2 outings and will need to scale a revival to figure here.

Form: P-154PP

Well Above Par^p,t¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 102| CD

16/1

C&D winner in 2019. Stopped very quickly on his return and seemed to take little interest here last month, so has serious questions to answer at present.

Form: 1647-6P

Caboy^t,v²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 94

6/1

Winless since scoring in France in 2018. Two fairly ordinary efforts so far this term, merely plugging on when fourth of 10 in handicap chase at Ayr (20.5f, good to soft) 24 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 252-364

Forecasts

Dragonfruit (2/1), Deep Charm (5/1), Caboy (6/1), Velasco (9/1), Thatsy (10/1), Straight Swap (11/1), Touch Kick (12/1), Well Above Par (16/1), Crixus's Escape (16/1), Fortified Bay (20/1)

DRAGONFRUIT races from an unchanged mark from when runner-up at Sedgefield in November and can build on that promising return. Touch Kick ran his best race for current connections last time and should give another good account, with Deep Charm also capable of getting in the mix if over the apparent physical ailment that looked evident last time.