Good Luck Barry Murphy Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 5m 23.42s

Walkinthewoods¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Osian Radford⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Mrs C Williams| OR: 96| C

9/1

Dual hurdles winner who got off the mark over fences at Plumpton last spring, albeit in a weak 3-runner affair. Sharper for a comeback run when second in handicap hurdle at Ludlow but she was well held in this sphere at Wincanton 19 days ago.

Form: 4-142U6

Boston Joe⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 95| C

3/1

Won a pair of handicaps over 2m here in 2024 and creditable placed efforts back at this venue (over hurdles and fences) during the autumn. Disappointing when pulled up in a handicap hurdle at Chepstow last time but he needs considering returned to the larger obstacles and, moreover, this course.

Form: 542-33P

Benignitas³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Rian Corcoran⁽⁷⁾| T: Gordon Treacy| OR: 94

17/2

Point winner in January 2023 and showed ability in 2 starts switched to hurdles at Chepstow last season. Shaped well when chasing home a strong stayer on first go over fences over this C&D (heavy) at the end of January but she ran no sort of a race at Hereford next time.

Form: 333-62P

El Rojo Grande²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Katy Price| OR: 88| BF| C

9/4

Finally off the mark when scoring at Market Rasen in January and went on to complete a quick-fire hat-trick during the next couple of weeks. Lost no caste in defeat when just touched off back here (2m, heavy) last time and shapes as though worth another try at this sort of trip.

Form: 521112

Henry Box Brown⁹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Ellis Collier⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs C Williams| OR: 84

7/1

Posted several good placed efforts at Worcester last year and by no means disgraced when third at Chepstow in November. However, latest display at Southwell wasn't one of his better ones and this 9-y-o looks vulnerable for win purposes.

Form: 2U8234

Ferando^t¹⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Callum Pritchard⁽³⁾| T: B J Murphy| OR: 77

10/3

Pulled up sole outing for Nicky Henderson and fared little better in 3 starts for Alison Thorpe, well held when falling at the last fence on final run for that yard/chase debut at Sedgefield in September. Readily passed over on first start for new connections.

Form: PP4-F

Non-Runners

Port Or Starboard¹⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 9

T: B J Llewellyn J: Lee Edwards

Forecasts

El Rojo Grande (9/4), Boston Joe (3/1), Port Or Starboard (3/1), Ferando (10/3), Henry Box Brown (7/1), Benignitas (17/2), Walkinthewoods (9/1)

The lion's share of BOSTON JOE's good efforts have come at this course, including 3 of his 5 career wins, and it would be no surprise to see him bounce back from his tame Chepstow effort with a bold show now returned to this track. Port Or Starboard found just one too good on his recent chase debut and should give another good account, while the in-form El Rojo Grande is also accorded plenty of respect.