Mickey Bowen Racing Handicap Chase

4YO plus | Class 5 | 3m 1f 60y | 9 Runners | Turf

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 105

Maiden pointer who bettered his hurdles form when second in first-time cheekpieces on chase debut at Warwick back in January. However, he turned in a concerning effort after 11 months off when failing to complete at Huntingdon recently but can get back on track.

Form: 94U/42-U

Bushypark^p¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Joe Williamson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 103

Winless since 2023 but he has a much-reduced mark to work with and took a step back in the right direction when fourth of 12 at Carlisle 18 days ago. The deeper the ground the better for him.

Form: PF6P-64

Ithaka^t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Conor Ring| T: R Potter| OR: 100

A dual 23f hurdles winner last term who signed off with a good second in 23f handicap at Market Rasen in March. However, he went with little encouragement on this second try over fences after 9 months off back there a fortnight ago so looks an easy swerve despite a tumbling mark.

Form: 51382-3

Haut Folin⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 99| C

Runner-up on first 2 starts last season (including in this race). However, his campaign ended with a series of non-completions and he continued that theme at Warwick last week (now pulled up on 7 of his last 10 starts). Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 22PPP-P

River Voyage²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 98| C

Revitalised over hurdles last season, easy winner of a 6-runner handicap here (23f, heavy) in February before following up on better ground at Exeter the following month. Bettered previous efforts in this sphere when third on last month's reappearance at Chepstow and he's one to be interested in.

Form: 76211-3

Stellar Stream^p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: James Bowen| T: K Woollacott| OR: 98

More bad efforts than good ones since opening account in this sphere at Bangor in February 2024. Still, he has edged down the weights and put in a good shift when third of 7 behind Esperti here last month. Couldn't rule out.

Form: P2U5-83

Esperti²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: S Bowen| T: D A Rees| OR: 86| C

Took advantage of a much-reduced mark when scoring here in February then backed that up (despite tending to jump right) when runner-up on return at Newton Abbot. Did well to come from last to first in a falsely-run race when scoring back here last month and remains of interest nudged up 4 lb.

Form: 54B1-21

Benny Baloo²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Isabel Williams| T: Evan Williams| OR: 79

Winning pointer who made it second time lucky over fences for Tim Easterby at Market Rasen on Boxing Day 2023. Best effort since when runner-up at the same course in May the following year but hasn't shown much on both starts back from 16 months off for a new yard this term. Plenty to prove.

Form: 53/32-55

Dysania^p²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Shane Fenelon⁽⁵⁾| T: M Bowen| OR: 71

Just the one win to his name from 29 starts overall and ran poorly returning from 7 months off here last month. 8 lb out of the weights here and set for another struggle.

Form: 4P52-74

Forecasts

Esperti (9/4), Isle Of Gold (4/1), River Voyage (5/1), Stellar Stream (6/1), Bushypark (7/1), Ithaka (12/1), Benny Baloo (14/1), Haut Folin (14/1), Dysania (25/1)

In a race where several have something to prove, this can go to ESPERTI, who made it 2 course wins from his last 3 starts here last month and a 4 lb rise may not be enough to prevent further success. River Voyage bettered previous efforts in this discipline when shaping well on last month's Chepstow reappearance, so he heads up the dangers, with Stellar Stream and Isle of Gold taken to fight out minor honours.