Rosemary Gasson Big Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:23 | Winning time: 4m 5.10s

Mercian Prince^p,t³³

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 139

11/1

Veteran campaigner who enhanced his fine Kempton record on the back of 7 months off when landing a 2¼m handicap in May under a typically fluent front-running display. Below his best on both subsequent outings (latest over hurdles) so probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: 251-158

Sir Tivo^t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: G Hanmer| OR: 129| CD

11/4

Didn't have to improve to win an uncompetitive handicap at Southwell in May and lost little in defeat when going down by just a short head at Uttoxeter (16f, good) since, collared in the dying strides. Up another 2 lb for that near miss but can get involved again.

Form: 14P4-12

Cracking Destiny¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 122| CD

5/2

Confirmed this season's previous promise and ended an almost 2-year losing run when scoring at this C&D (good to soft) earlier this month, taking his record here to 2-2. He remains well-in on old form and must be feared provided this doesn't come too soon.

Form: 7/64-341

Blueberry Wine^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 120| BF| D

11/2

Likeable type who followed up his Huntingdon success with career-best victory at Aintree (15.8f, good to firm) last month. Lost little in defeat against a well-treated rival at Worcester 25 days ago and a career best is needed to regain the winning thread.

Form: 514-112

Romanor⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Bradley Harris⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 112| CD

5/2

Bagged a trio of handicap chases at Newton Abbot in 2022, the latest from a 1 lb higher mark in September. Not scored since but wasn't seen to best effect under trademark dropped-out tactics there 6 days ago, finishing with running left. Not discounted.

Form: 37-6232

Non-Runners

Feel The Pinch¹

Weight: 10-2| Age: 9

T: R L Llewellyn J: Toby Wynne

Forecasts

Cracking Destiny (5/2), Romanor (5/2), Sir Tivo (11/4), Feel The Pinch (9/2), Blueberry Wine (11/2), Mercian Prince (11/1)

Tough to rule out any of the sextet but preference is for CRACKING DESTINY, who confirmed this season's previous promise when scoring over C&D earlier this month and can maintain his unbeaten record at this venue. Sir Tivo has returned better than ever this term, so he could be the one to give the selection most to think about, with Feel The Pinch rounding off the shortlist.