16:00 Fontwell

Sunday 29 January 2023

All13:0513:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:35

Vickers.Bet Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 6m 11.9s

Art Decco²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁷⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 100| BF

10/11

Already a much better chaser than hurdler after only 3 starts in this sphere and again ran well when third of 12 at Uttoxeter (24f, heavy) 29 days ago. Races from same mark here and appeals as the one to beat with useful conditional in the saddle.

Form: 494-723

Waikiki Waves^b⁵⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 100| CD

17/2

Three-time winner over fences here but he's long been an unrealiable sort and wasn't on a going day when pulled up at Lingfield last time. Certainly capable of getting involved if putting his best foot forward, though it's only guesswork as to what sort of mood he'll be in here.

Form: P3-3P2P

En Coeur^t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 94

6/1

Plumpton specialist enhanced his fine record at that track when winning an 8-runner handicap there earlier this month. That race somewhat fell apart and his record elsewhere isn't as inspiring, but would hold claims if backing that performance up.

Form: 3-42251

C'Est Quelqu'un^b⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: James Davies| T: S Curran| OR: 93| C

25/1

Off the mark over hurdles here in February but has struggled badly since, the switch to chasing last time showing no sign of sparking him back to form.

Form: 1PPP-03

Abaya Du Mathan^b,t²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 91

22/1

Fairly useful in France but has been campaigned heavily with little recent success for current yard.

Form: 636P4P

Twasn't The Plan^t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Toby Wynne⁽⁵⁾| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 86

8/1

Won 3-runner point in April and ran creditably on his first outing under Rules for this yard when third of 8 in handicap chase at Fakenham (21.2f, good to soft, 11/2) 28 days ago. Each-way claims.

Form: 4/47P1-3

Aikenbreakinheart^t⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R Rowe| OR: 83

22/1

Showed ability in maiden hurdles at up to 3m in Ireland. Unable to reach that level in handicaps for current yard, though stopped the slide to some extent at Fontwell (21.8f) with the tongue tie left off last month. More needed on chase debut, though.

Form: 74-P665

Captain Cuckoo^b,t²²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: David Noonan| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 81

100/1

Has barely finished ahead of a rival under Rules and is impossible to fancy having pulled up on each of his last 3 outings.

Form: U4F-PPP

Allardyce^b³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 77

9/1

Losing run stretches back to early 2020 though wasn't disgraced from out of the handicap here latest. Races off proper mark now but it's still easier to envisage others winning.

Form: 60-P333

Master Mikey Dee⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 74

12/1

Fortunate winner on Taunton on chase debut but has been soundly beaten on his other outings over fences and he's opposable again.

Form: 0713-65

Forecasts

Art Decco (10/11), En Coeur (6/1), Twasn't The Plan (8/1), Waikiki Waves (17/2), Allardyce (9/1), Master Mikey Dee (12/1), Aikenbreakinheart (22/1), Abaya Du Mathan (22/1), C'Est Quelqu'un (25/1), Captain Cuckoo (100/1)

Robert Walford's ART DECCO looks to have been found a relatively uncompetitive event in which he can build on his encouraging start to chasing and get off the mark. Plumpton-specialist En Coeur won at that course last time and makes most appeal of the remainder, with Twasn't The Plan taken to fill the frame.