Wigley Group Carnival Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 3m 52.1s

Saint Calvados^t³³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 149| CD

7/4

C&D winner. One-time top-class chaser who opened his account for Paul Nicholls in Grade 2 company at Sandown 13 months ago. Failed to fire in 3 starts during the winter but stopped the slide when third in listed handicap at Ayr (20.5f) 5 weeks ago. In the mix again from 1 lb lower mark.

Form: 51/24P3-

Mercian Prince^t²³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 140

5/1

Veteran campaigner who enhanced his fine Kempton record on the back of 7 months off when landing an 18f handicap 23 days ago under a typically fluent front-running display. Bit more on his plate from 3 lb higher but he's clearly returned in rude health.

Form: 12251-1

Light N Strike³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 135| D

10/3

Fairly useful winning hurdler/chaser who showed plenty of zest on back of 6 months off when runner-up at Kempton (18f) 4 weeks ago, jumping soundly and weakening only late on. Not underestimated from this sort of mark with that under his belt.

Form: 712F52-

Espion Du Chenet^p,t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: Louise G Lyons| OR: 130| D

10/1

Irish raider who added to his tally over fences at Punchestown (2m) 12 months ago. Plenty of creditable efforts in defeat subsequently, sound fifth in 14-runner handicap at that venue 4 weeks ago. However, he has little wriggle room from this mark.

Form: 6572P5-

Hatcher⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 129| D

10/1

Record has become distinctly patchy and, having halted the slide to an extent when third at Ascot on his penultimate start, he was in nothing like the same form in the Red Rum at Aintree later last month. This less demanding if he can bounce back at least.

Form: F/PPF3P-

Only Money²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁷⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 117| D

5/1

Bumper/4-time winner over fences (at around 2m) and he shaped encouragingly on back of 4 months off when fourth behind re-opposing Mercian Prince at Kempton 23 days ago. Not underestimated with that under his belt despite operating from out of the weights.

Form: 1132P-4

Forecasts

Saint Calvados (7/4), Light N Strike (10/3), Only Money (5/1), Mercian Prince (5/1), Espion Du Chenet (10/1), Hatcher (10/1)

Intriguing fare despite the small field with a chance taken on former C&D winner SAINT CALVADOS. He confirmed he still has plenty to offer when third in an Ayr listed handicap 33 days ago and can make his presence felt back down in trip from an easing mark. Light N Strike and Only Money are a couple of others to consider.