Betfred Last Fling Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 7m 31.86s

Vanillier^b,t³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-1| J: Eoin Staples⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 146

11/2

Smart performer on his day and performed with credit when third in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Should come on for his reappearance run at Punchestown and this mark isn't a bad one, but there's an air of vulnerability about him all the same.

Form: 9130U-6

Egbert^p²⁹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 130| C

5/1

Dual chase winner during 2023/24 campaign and added the Tommy Whittle to his CV here last winter. Failed to complete both subsequent starts and sometimes races lazily, but he's certainly capable of a bold show off this mark if raring to go on debut for new yard following a 9-month absence.

Form: 2P/51FP-

Wa Wa^t,p³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: B S Hughes| T: O Murphy| OR: 118

5/2

Four-time winner in Ireland and off the mark for this yard in a Perth handicap hurdle (26.6f, soft) during the spring. Creditable efforts returned to this sphere the last twice and, with this marathon trip likely to be right up his street and cheekpieces refitted, he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 51-2233

Jupiter Des Bordes^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 115

11/10

Largely consistent over fences for current yard and deservedly opened his account in this sphere with a gritty display at Warwick (3m, soft), the front 2 pulling a mile clear of the rest. More on his plate here from 4 lb out of the handicap, but should make his presence felt nonetheless.

Form: 3342-31

Non-Runners

Whistle Stop Tour³⁸

Weight: 10-10| Age: 7

T: L Russell & M Scudamore J: Jack Power

Regal Blue³⁷⁴

Weight: 10-10| Age: 8

T: J & A O'Neill J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Forecasts

Jupiter Des Bordes (11/10), Wa Wa (5/2), Egbert (5/1), Whistle Stop Tour (5/1), Vanillier (11/2), Regal Blue (6/1)

Much will depend on if he's on a going day, but if he is EGBERT could be the answer. He enjoyed his finest hour to date when landing the Tommy Whittle here (sole previous visit to this course) last December and is just 3 lb above that winning mark on debut for the in-form Christian Williams yard. Whistle Stop has slipped to an attractive mark and he has to be considered, along with Wa Wa, for whom this marathon trip may prove ideal.