Racecards
16:25 Uttoxeter
Britannia Building Society English National Handicap Chase
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 4m 110y
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 432U4-2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey P J Brennan
tracked leader, led 15th to 16th, ridden after 5 out, every chance when mistake 4 out, weakened 3 out
- Form 3PP4F-F
- Age 12
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer Mrs Jeremy Young
- Jockey J M Maguire
led to 15th, weakened quickly after 16th, behind when pulled up before 17th
- Form 851-335
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form B231-15
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey R M Power
held up towards rear, mistake 7th, mistake 11th, headway when not fluent 15th, weakened approaching 4 out
Royal Tir (FR)
414- Form 0P829/7-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
chased leaders until after 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 17th
- Form 1133-33
- Age 9
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up, mistake 5th, headway approaching 15th, weakened after 4 out
Swansea Bay
10- Form 6870R-3
- Age 9
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
prominent, ridden after 5 out, stayed on one pace
- Form 611267-
- Age 10
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Christian Williams
held up towards rear, effort approaching 5 out, weakening when mistake 4 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 1572F-1
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 123
always behind
- Form 46-3P21
- Age 10
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 123
in touch, ridden after 3 out, stayed on one pace
- Form F22-122
- Age 11
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer Miss K Marks
- Jockey R Spate
held up, mistake 1st, blundered 2nd, some headway 5 out, never dangerous
- Form 165PP-1
- Age 9
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey J Culloty
held up and took keen hold, headway approaching 10th, lost place 13th, headway again approaching 5 out, weakened before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 651F17-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
mid-division, ridden after 5 out, never near leaders
- Form 722-15P
- Age 11
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer M H Weston
- Jockey R Thornton
mid-division, headway 8th, chased winner approaching 4 out, every chance 3 out, one pace
- Form 053-013
- Age 10
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
always prominent, led 16th, clear last, easily
- Form 2PU/21-1
- Age 11
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
mid-division, losing place when blundered 12th, behind from 14th
In depth
Verdict
This is a cracking contest for this time of the year and the pick of the weights could be Commanche War Paint, Pay It Forward and the Martin Pipe pair Meneur De Jeu and Isard are also expected to run well. Ruby Walsh has been the man to follow in the main Nationals this season and he can gain another marathon success on the Paul Nicholls trained gelding. He was a faller when made favourite for the Cross Country Chase at the Festival, before making amends with an emphatic victory at the same venue a month later. Off his current mark with a clear round he should be there or thereabouts. Play It Forward is tackling this sort of trip for the first time but has been in good form back home and has to be respected. Isard is the mount of Timmy Murphy and also trying four miles for the first time, he should go well but preference is for his stable-mate Meneur De Jeu. Tony McCoy's mount looked an out an out stayer when chasing home Hirvine back in January and he should be spot on for this having landed a recent hurdle event at Newton Abbot. The Willie Mullins trained Bassett Tiger looks the pick of the others, but with the National king Ruby on board, Comanche War Paint gets the decision.