Vertem - Very Different Stockbrokers Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:19 | Winning time: 4m 11.29s

Baron De Midleton^b⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 119| CWS

4/1

Back to form in refitted blinkers, gaining a belated first success over fences over 20f here in November. Solid runners-up efforts both starts since and not discounted arriving here on back of a wind op.

Form: 3-75122

Heroique De Maulde^p1,t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 114

11/8

Dual chase winner in France last autumn who cmeneted positive start for new yard when off the mark following a wind op at Doncaster (20.5f) 16 days ago, idling run-in and always holding on. Big player from 2 lb higher mark again partnered by Brian Hughes. Cheekpieces enlisted.

Form: R21-231

Chanceux²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Tudor| T: A Ralph| OR: 114| BF| D

7/2

Dual novice hurdle winner (at around 2m) last winter. Improved at first attempt over fences when runner-up at Uttoxeter (20f, heavy) in December but failed to jump with same fluency when falling back at that venue last month. Drops back in trip now and it remains early days with him.

Form: P3P-62F

Oscars Leader^p²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 111| CD

10/3

Doubled chase tally from 6 lb higher on this card 12 months ago. Not scaled same heights since but his latest midfield Hereford effort over this trip was a step back in the right direction. Cheekpieces replace the visor now.

Form: U13-3P6

Non-Runners

Ritson²⁴

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: R Menzies J: Aaron Anderson

Forecasts

Heroique De Maulde (11/8), Oscars Leader (10/3), Chanceux (7/2), Baron De Midleton (4/1), Ritson (11/2)

HEROIQUE DE MAULDE cemented the positive start made for his new yard when scoring at Doncaster 16 days ago and a 2 lb higher mark shouldn't prevent a bold follow-up bid on that evidence dropping back down in trip. Chanceux was let down by his jumping at Uttoxeter latest but his previous chase debut second was a solid display and he's not out of things, with Baron de Midleton also worth a second look.