Download The Vickers.Bet App Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 7m 20.6s

Along Long Story^p1¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 100

33/1

Winner of maiden hunter at Thurles (25f) last March for Declan Queally but form has gone the wrong way this season, offering little in a pair of starts for current yard. Has enough to prove in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 41-50P0

Loughermore^p,t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 90

7/2

Back in cheekpieces and tongue tied for first time, fared better than of late when mid-field in handicap hurdle at Wetherby (19.7f) a month ago. Now only 1 lb above last winning mark, so could go well returned to chasing back up in trip.

Form: 224058

Ballynagran^t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Craig Nichol| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 88

9/2

Backed at long odds, despite being 15 lb out of the handicap, and showed much improved form when off the mark at Wetherby (24.2f, 14/1) a month ago. Has more to offer over fences and can follow up.

Form: 846-031

Sir Apollo^b1,t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 83| CD

9/4

Upped in trip and opened his account when making all in handicap at this C&D in November. Disappointing at Market Rasen (23.9f) earlier this month, but no surprise to see him bounce back with blinkers on first time.

Form: 4-41644

Henry Brown^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: B S Hughes| T: H Burns| OR: 82

3/1

Suited by way race developed when finally off the mark at Hexham (24.2f) in September and hasn't been able to match that form since, not posing much of a threat when third at this C&D last time.

Form: 331463

The Very Thing^v⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Miss Becky Smith| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 78

18/1

Gained sole win at Catterick (25.2f) in January last year and ran well when second at Market Rasen on final start of the campaign. Yet to fire this season, though, running no sort of race when pulled up last time. Hard to catch right.

Form: 52-6P3P

Tanrudy^b¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 75

9/1

On long losing run but, with a visor reapplied, hinted at a revival when fourth of 10 at Hereford (25.2f) 18 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Has dropped further in the weights and blinkers now back on, though needs to prove himself at this trip.

Form: 2239-04

Forecasts

Sir Apollo (9/4), Henry Brown (3/1), Loughermore (7/2), Ballynagran (9/2), Tanrudy (9/1), The Very Thing (18/1), Along Long Story (33/1)

BALLYNAGRAN left his previous form behind when getting off the mark at Wetherby last month, proving game as he made all, and the 8-y-o could still have more to offer after only 3 starts over fences. He is taken to see off the challenge of Sir Apollo who can bounce back returned to this C&D in a change of headgear, Loughermore completes the shortlist.