Alfie Flatt 18th Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:18 | Winning time: 5m 2.61s

Theonlywayiswessex⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 115| D

7/2

Lightly raced in recent seasons and he confirmed promise of May's reappearance second when resuming winning ways with something to spare at Warwick (2½m, good to firm) 6 weeks ago. Career-high mark to defy up 8 lb but likely he can go well again.

Form: 7/234-21

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Pep Talking^p⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: Billy Aprahamian| OR: 114| CD

5/2

Reliable sort who enhanced his already healthy strike rate at Chepstow (2m) in April and has done little to alter the fact he remains in good form since, caught further back than ideal when second at Southwell (2m) 6 weeks ago. Return to further in his favour and he's respected.

Form: 1P21-22

Ukantango^p,t⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 113| D

11/2

Made first chase start for 2 years a winning one at Southwell (2½m) in April but hasn't gone on as expected in 2 starts since, albeit possibly amiss when last of 9 in refitted cheekpieces (retained) at Worcester in May. Could bounce back following a short break.

Form: 4191-49

Le Gentleman^t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Tudor| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 112| BF| D

9/4

Lightly-raced ex-French gelding who got off the mark over fences at Bangor (2½m) in May and shaped like the clear best at the weights when second over same C&D 3 weeks ago, handing initiative to staying on winner when bungling the last. Clearly has more wins in him if brushing up his jumping.

Form: U/293-12

My Friend Sean^p,t⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 108| C

13/2

Five-time winner over hurdles who is potentially very well treated on those exploits but has yet to convince over the larger obstacles, always behind on back of 10 weeks off when last of 5 at Southwell (2m) 6 weeks ago. Steps back up in trip now.

Form: 46636-5

Forecasts

Le Gentleman (9/4), Pep Talking (5/2), Theonlywayiswessex (7/2), Ukantango (11/2), My Friend Sean (13/2)

Successful on his third start for present connections at Bangor in May, LE GENTLEMAN shaped clear best at the weights and arguably should have followed up when runner up back at that venue 3 weeks ago, handing the winner the initiative when bungling the last. Clearly ahead of his present mark, there's more wins close to hand provided he brushes up his jumping. The reliable Pep Talking wasn't seen to best effect last time and along with Warwick scorer Theonlywayiswessex, heads the dangers.