Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 7m 27.4s

Movethechains⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 127| C

7/4

Highly-progressive chaser last season who completed a 4-timer (all by 12 lengths or more) in handicaps over 3m at this venue. Looked rusty pitched into the Welsh National on his return and it would be no surprise to see him back on the up here.

Form: P1111-5

Checkitout^v1¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 122

8/1

Ended last season on a downer and both starts back this term hardly suggests he's a winner in waiting. Eased further 5 lb and a visor replaces cheekpieces.

Form: 510P-P8

Art Of Illusion^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 117

2/1

Off the mark first time up over fences in October and firmly back on track when adding to that at Ffos Las (21f) last month. Upped to 25.7f and better still when a neck second at Plumpton a fortnight ago, clear of the rest.

Form: 135312

Pemberley^p1⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 113

10/1

Warwick winner from 3 lb lower in December 2021. Runner-up twice since but also failed to complete 3 times, stopping very quickly at Plumpton last month. Cheekpieces reached for.

Form: 12FP-2P

D'jango^b,t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 106

18/1

Having faced a stiff task in the Welsh National, returned to form only 6 days later when third in the Sussex National at Plumpton (28.5f), No real surprise given overall profile he was in nothing like the same form latest, turning in a moody display.

Form: 657P34

Colonel Keating¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: R Rowe| OR: 100| C

5/1

Well on top at the finish when opening Rules account in 23.5f handicap chase here in December 2021. In-and-out form subsequently, plodding on for a remote second on reappearance following another wind op at Fontwell 16 days ago.

Form: 2/1837-2

Forecasts

Movethechains (7/4), Art Of Illusion (2/1), Colonel Keating (5/1), Checkitout (8/1), Pemberley (10/1), D'jango (18/1)

MOVETHECHAINS found the Welsh National a bit of a shock to the system on his reappearance but he's back in calmer waters at a venue where he holds an unbeaten record. He therefore makes plenty of appeal, with Art of Illusion expected to offer most resistance.