weatherbysshop.co.uk Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 36.35s

Kayf Hernando^t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Sutton⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 122

6/1

Took well to chasing last season, winning at Taunton and Southwell. Posed little win threat but wasn't fully disgraced in form terms when sixth of 12 in handicap chase at Plumpton (25.7f, good to soft, 15/2) 18 days ago. Respected.

Form: 3/4131-6

Shanty Alley^p²⁰²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: B I Case| OR: 122

11/1

Losing run stretches back to January 2021, but he was runner-up twice in decent handicaps at Wetherby and Newbury last winter. Also found just one too good off this mark at Uttoxeter (21f, heavy) when last seen in May, and could go well back up in trip here if fully tuned-up.

Form: 227PP-2

Twoshotsoftequila²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 120

4/1

Strong-travelling sort got off the mark over fences in 6-runner handicap at Doncaster (3m, good) in March. Worried out of it close home at Carlisle last time but he should be in the mix again if arriving here in the same form.

Form: 3214-P2

Almazhar Garde^p,t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 120| C

11/2

Winless since April 2021 and shaped as if needing his comeback when mid-division a big-field amateurs event at Cheltenham (25f, good to soft, 22/1) 28 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: P429-30

Anti Bridgie^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 114

10/3

Fair form in winning her first 2 starts over hurdles at Sedgefield and Kelso and she shaped well on chase debut when third in 7-runner event at Carlisle (26.2f, soft) last month. Leading player.

Form: 11P33-3

Some Scope^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: R Hobson| OR: 110

7/2

Irish point winner proved a different proposition when making a winning handicap debut at Haydock (good to firm) in April. Shaped better than the result when fifth at Wetherby (24.2f, heavy) on chase debut and he's a likely improver.

Form: 5441-P5

Court At Slip^b²²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 110| BF

9/1

Likeable sort scored 3 times last season, most recently at Sedgefield (27f) in March. Ended term with another good second at Newcastle and he's respected on return, for all others may have bit more in hand from the assessor.

Form: 461142-

Forecasts

Anti Bridgie (10/3), Some Scope (7/2), Twoshotsoftequila (4/1), Almazhar Garde (11/2), Kayf Hernando (6/1), Court At Slip (9/1), Shanty Alley (11/1)

SOME SCOPE was an improver across a light hurdling campaign last year and would have finished much closer at Wetherby if not for a bad mistake on chase debut, so is given the nod to make it seconf time lucky in this sphere. Twoshotsoftequila was caught only late at Carlisle last time and is another for the shortlist, with Anti Bridgie and Shanty Alley also considered in a open-looking event.