Virgin Bet Fives Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 5m 9.10s

On Springs¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Williams| T: B Pauling| OR: 118| D

13/2

Not entirely straightforward but thrived last summer, winning 4 of his 5 starts after returning from a break in June. However, this season's efforts have not been particularly inspiring and he could probably do with more respite from the assessor.

Form: 111PP4

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Tupelo Mississippi^p¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 115

4/1

Dual bumper/maiden hurdle winner who produced arguably his best effort yet over fences when second to Git Maker in a 4-runner Catterick handicap on New Year's Day. Not so good when a well-held fourth behind the same rival (again at Catterick) next time, though.

Form: 3/2P6-23

Fanzio^p,t⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: R Hobson| OR: 113

9/1

Has fallen a long way in the weights since his latest success in a handicap chase at Perth back in April 2021 (now 17 lb below that winning mark) but there are far more bad runs than good ones on his recent record.

Form: P3234U

Heroique De Maulde^t⁴⁵

11/8

Dual chase winner in France last autumn and positive start on these shores following 12 months off when going close at Newcastle (2½m, good) in November. Again performed well when third over the same C&D on Boxing Day (since undergone a wind op) and this 6-y-o is a big player.

Form: 1R21-23

Croagh Patrick^t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 99

3/1

Back-to-back winner of handicap chases last spring and returned to form following a couple of tame efforts when third of 11 over 3m here recently. Down another 1 lb, while both this drop back in trip and the drying ground are positive factors, so there's certainly cause for optimism.

Form: 542P83

Non-Runners

Buster Valentine⁴⁵

Weight: 12-2| Age: 10

T: M Walford J: Jamie Hamilton

The Mighty Arc⁴⁵

Weight: 12-0| Age: 8

T: C E Longsdon J: Sean Quinlan

Road Warrior⁴⁵

Weight: 11-3| Age: 9

T: R Menzies J: Ross Chapman

Forecasts

Heroique De Maulde (11/8), Croagh Patrick (3/1), Tupelo Mississippi (4/1), On Springs (13/2), The Mighty Arc (8/1), Fanzio (9/1), Buster Valentine (10/1), Road Warrior (14/1)

The most appealing of these is French-import HEROIQUE DE MAULDE, who has performed with plenty of credit in a couple of runs at Newcastle for present connections and he may well be capable of better given his low mileage. Croagh Patrick has a fair bit going for him having put in a good shift here recently and he is second choice ahead of The Mighty Arc, who is capable of a bold show if he puts his best foot forward.