racingtv.com Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 5m 1.7s

Whoshotthesheriff⁶²

7/1

Useful chaser in his prime. Lost his way for Phil Kirby but shaped as though retaining a portion of his ability from his much-reduced mark both outings for this yard. Off 2 months on the back of a breathing op and he now looks a major player.

Form: 354-544

Shattered Soldier³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Morgan| OR: 104

9/4

Wide-margin winner on fifth start in Irish points and showed ability sent hurdling when third of 4 in novice at Musselburgh (19.8f, good to soft) in November. Not quite in the same form at Catterick a month later but connections quick to tackle fences switched to handicaps.

Form: F521-34

Halpha Soleil¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 100

11/2

Looked better than ever when winning over hurdles at Hexham in June. Probably needed the run in a handicap there on chase debut in December and merely matched that form at Newcastle a fortnight ago. Brian Hughes takes over.

Form: 62-4185

One Last Glance^p,t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: C O'Farrell| T: T R Gretton| OR: 96

6/1

Belatedly off the mark in handicap hurdle at Stratford (16.3f, heavy) on return in October and also opened chase account at Fakenham despite a few mistakes a month ago. 6 lb rise asks for more but he's clearly in good order.

Form: 23-1321

Valence D'Aumont⁴⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: Danny McMenamin| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 85| D

3/1

Tumbled down the weights and finished a well-beaten third on both outings in November. Fitted with cheekpieces and beaten before stamina for 3m came into play at Southwell. Down in the weights and yard going better now.

Form: P4-5336

Kings Justice^p,t⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: S Allwood| OR: 83| CD

9/1

Did well over fences last season, winning once and runner-up on 3 other occasions (including in this race). Almost certainly needed the run back hurdling last month and this will reveal more.

Form: 12B2-4P

Cudgel^b,t³⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-3| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: J Walton| OR: 79

22/1

All 6 career wins have been registered at Hexham but always behind there on return and never able to land a blow over C&D a month ago.

Form: 22-6383

Forecasts

Shattered Soldier (9/4), Valence D'Aumont (3/1), Halpha Soleil (11/2), One Last Glance (6/1), Whoshotthesheriff (7/1), Kings Justice (9/1), Cudgel (22/1)

Having tumbled in the weights, WHOSHOTTHESHERIFF hasn't looked a lost cause for new connections and with a breathing op perhaps helping him in the finishing department, he's worth risking. One Last Glance is feared as a last-time-out winner, while a case of sorts can be made for Shattered Soldier and Valence D'aumont.