racingtv.com/competitions Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 6m 8.26s

Flegmatik^p,t¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 134| CD

85/40

Three of his 4 wins over fences have been gained here, the latest a C&D handicap (strong form) off 3 lb higher last January. Produced by far his best of present campaign when a clear second back here (20.5f, good to soft) recently and likely to make a bold bid to go one better.

Form: 453342

Hermino AA⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 132| D

4/1

Better than ever when making a winning reappearance in a Newbury handicap hurdle in November. However, not in the same form here and at Windsor since, and he failed to complete both previous starts over fences back in 2023.

Form: 243-147

Menaggio³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 132

6/4

Fair winning hurdler who bagged a pair of small-field 19.7f handicaps chases at Plumpton during the autumn. Reportedly bled when pulled up at Newbury during the Christmas period and back on track when runner-up off this mark at Kelso (21.6f, good to soft) last month. Promises to stay this trip.

Form: 3-211P2

Young Buster^p,t⁶⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130| D

5/1

Much improved sent chasing last term, completing hat-trick in a handicap at Kelso. Ended that campaign with a decent effort at Aintree but he hasn't fired in 2 starts so far this season and needs to bounce back.

Form: 13P-257

Non-Runners

Ideal Des Bordes³⁸

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Forecasts

Menaggio (6/4), Flegmatik (85/40), Ideal Des Bordes (10/3), Hermino AA (4/1), Young Buster (5/1)

There was a valid excuse for MENAGGIO's Newbury flop at the end of December and he duly got back on the up when returning from a break at Kelso where he found just one too good. This stiffer test could help unlock some improvement and he shades preference ahead of Flegmatik, who went down fighting here last time and the 10-y-o looks sure to make another bold bid. Ideal des Bordes is most interesting of the remaining trio.