Glenfarclas Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:31 | Winning time: 6m 2.43s

Judge Earle²³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 120| C| D

7/2

Prolific over fences last summer, winning 5 times. Heavy defeats first 5 starts but took advantage of reduced mark in emphatic fashion at Uttoxeter. Followed up under a penalty at Worcester with more in hand than margin suggests so hat-trick could well be on the cards.

Form: 6-26511

Hermann Clermont^t⁶⁹

18/1

Won twice over C&D for Gordon Elliott last season and ran reasonably well when second on his hunter chase/yard debut at Kelso. Failed to complete next 2 starts, however.

Form: SFP-2UP

Favori De Sivola^b1,t¹⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 115| DWS

9/2

Successful at Exeter in December but well held next 3 starts. Temperament is now under suspicion but starts on a winning mark for new yard. Change of headgear.

Form: 2/4176P-

Western Run^p⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: D R Fox| T: R M Smith| OR: 115| D

17/2

Long-standing maiden chaser who needs to fall further in the weights.

Form: 131-256

Hidden Commander^p1,t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: W Coltherd| OR: 110| D

8/1

Won 5 times over fences for this yard but been more miss than hit in recent starts. Headgear applied and now dipped below last winning mark but percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: P-72444

Castletown^v¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 105| BF| CD

2/1

Unreliable sort but he ended a long losing run in a change of headgear in 8-runner handicap chase over C&D and backed that up with good second here 17 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 22-4312

Wasdell Dundalk¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 97

13/2

Struggled for this yard this season and easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 77-6536

Forecasts

Castletown (2/1), Judge Earle (7/2), Favori De Sivola (9/2), Wasdell Dundalk (13/2), Hidden Commander (8/1), Western Run (17/2), Hermann Clermont (18/1)

It could be worth chancing FAVORI DE SIVOLA, who is back on his last winning mark starting out for David Pipe. Judge Earle is seeking a hat-trick so is the obvious threat, with fellow in-form veteran Castletown best of the others.