More Radio Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 4m 26.3s

Diplomatic Ash^t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 105| BF

9/4

Fair maiden hurdler who didn't get far on chase debut but got round ok when fourth of 11 over 2½m on second run in this sphere at Lingfield. Surprisingly short in the betting (sent off at 6/4) when third here (carried his head awkwardly) next time and the tongue strap is now refitted.

Form: 20P-U43

Extraordinary Man^b1²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 88

11/1

Just the one success from 22 starts overall but has been placed on several occasions, too, both over hurdles and in this sphere. Not at his best with hood refitted at Huntingdon last time but now tried in blinkers and will have a chance if responding well to the new headgear.

Form: 22P-423

Smart Casual^t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 84| BF

7/4

Went close without success over hurdles and similar form both starts switched to larger obstacles this winter, second of 7 in handicap chase at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) last time. Solid claims.

Form: 4B2-332

Miss Fedora⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Ellis Collier⁽⁷⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 72| D

18/1

Got back on track reverted to hurdling when landing 8-runner handicap at Cartmel (17.2f, soft) last summer. However, record stands at 0-9 over fences and she's 7 lb 'wrong' at the weights.

Form: 156363

Clondaw Robin^p⁴⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-2| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: A Irvine| OR: 71

25/1

Still winless over fences (0-29 in this sphere and just 1-38 overall) and while he posted his best effort of present campaign when third at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) last time, he was 8 lengths adrift of the re-opposing runner-up Smart Casual that day and is 8 lb out of the handicap here.

Form: 43-5453

Bumpy Evans^h1²⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 69

11/4

Offered little in a trio of starts over hurdles for Ben Lund in 2022/23 but successful between the Flags subsequently, winning each of his last 2 starts, the latest in May 2024. 10 lb out of the weights now handicapping in this sphere for new yard but worth a second look all the same.

Form: 0/FF2-11

Non-Runners

Time To Bite³⁹

Weight: 11-1| Age: 10

T: C Honour J: Bryan Carver

Forecasts

Smart Casual (7/4), Diplomatic Ash (9/4), Bumpy Evans (11/4), Extraordinary Man (11/1), Time To Bite (12/1), Miss Fedora (18/1), Clondaw Robin (25/1)

SMART CASUAL was a beaten favourite (not for the first time) at Lingfield last month but that was a creditable effort nonetheless and he has shown more than enough to suggest that a race of this nature will be within his grasp. Extraordinary Man should make his presence felt if taking well to the new headgear and Bumpy Evans merits respect, despite being 10 lb 'wrong' on this handicap/chase debut for new yard, on the back of two wins between the flags.