Lord Sparky Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 5m 57.7s

The Wolf^b,t,v¹⁶¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 120| D

7/2

Temperamental sort but he recorded a creditable second of 6 in handicap chase at Southwell (24.3f, good to soft) 161 days ago, albeit soon off the bridle. Visor goes back on but others are still preferred.

Form: 553P5-2

Breaking Waves^b⁵⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Bryan Carver| T: A M Hales| OR: 112| C

8/1

Untrustworthy individual who has followed his Uttoxeter victory in June with a trio of lesser efforts. Others make more appeal for win purposes.

Form: 4-6176P

Super Citizen^p¹⁷⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: Lucinda Hughes| OR: 109| D

12/1

Bettered recent efforts when a good second of 9 in hunter chase at Kelso (26.2f, soft) 170 days ago. In the mix with cheekpieces back on and Brian Hughes now up.

Form: 1P15-32

Special Acceptance^b²⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: Billy Aprahamian| OR: 108

11/10

Not the easiest to win with but made the frame on 5 of his 6 starts for Paul Webber last season and also came in a clear runner-up in 3m Uttoxeter handicap for his new yard last month. Big shout off an unchanged mark.

Form: 24325-2

Innisfree Lad^t,v³²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: Theo Gillard| T: David Dennis| OR: 108| C| D

4/1

A fairly useful 3m winner who comes here on the back of a respectable seventh of 13 in handicap chase at Chepstow (23.6f, good to soft) 32 days ago. Firmly in the picture off a 3 lb lower mark with visor back on.

Form: 2P4P-47

Ballywood^p1,t³²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: G Howell| OR: 100

33/1

Useful chaser at his peak for Alan King but well beaten so far over both sets of obstacles for his current yard. Cheekpieces are tried for the first time.

Form: 43/0056

Forecasts

Special Acceptance (11/10), The Wolf (7/2), Innisfree Lad (4/1), Breaking Waves (8/1), Super Citizen (12/1), Ballywood (33/1)

SPECIAL ACCEPTANCE rates the pick of the weights on the back of a very good Uttoxeter second for his new yard last month so looks the way to go. Innisfree Lad has been given some respite by the official assessor and is next on the list, with Super Citizen also in the mix with Brian Hughes now in the saddle.