Coral Racing Club Join For Free Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 5m 7.23s

Red Rookie^t1³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 137

15/2

Returned to pick of his chase form to land final start of last term at Warwick (16.2f, heavy) in March. However, ran a little flat when third here (18f) in May but offered little in starts over fences/hurdles upon returning this winter. Tongue tie on 1st time.

Form: 531-377

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Le Ligerien^t²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: J Tizzard| OR: 135| CD

13/2

Built up an impressive strike rate for present yard, adding small-field C&D veterans' chase to his tally in November. Ran another solid race up further in weights when third at Cheltenham (20.6f) 4 weeks ago and likely he will remain competitive.

Form: 142-P13

Cap Du Mathan^t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132

11/2

Dual-winning hurdler who tasted success twice over fences (at up to 19f) this time last year. Encouraging fourth on return at Ascot (16.7f) in November but jumping let him down when pulled up back at that venue 3 weeks ago. Still, not one to write off.

Form: 122P-4P

Tokay Dokey³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Skelton| OR: 125

13/2

10-y-o who has stood very little racing and, despite proving easy to back, shaped as if retaining ability back from 22 months off when fifth of 7 in handicap at Taunton (19f) 4 weeks ago. Entitled to be sharper here and good showing not ruled out.

Form: F9213/5

Pepe Le Moko²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 119| BF| D

5/6

Improved on fair hurdles form when running out an authoritative winner on chase debut at Warwick (20f) in November before finding only another upwardly-mobile sort too strong at Plumpton 26 days ago, conceding first run and closing all the way to the line. Big player with more to come.

Form: 3642-12

Non-Runners

Western Zephyr¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: C E Longsdon J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Pepe Le Moko (5/6), Western Zephyr (9/2), Cap Du Mathan (11/2), Le Ligerien (13/2), Tokay Dokey (13/2), Red Rookie (15/2)

Having showed improved form to run out a good winner on chase debut at Warwick in November, PEPE LE MOKO more than backed up the improvement displayed then when runner-up behind another upwardly-mobile sort at Plumpton last month, closing all the way to the line having conceded first run. Open to further progress, he's fancied to resume winning ways, with Cap du Mathan and Le Ligerien possibly emerging as the lead threats.