SIXTH RACE 3.30

The

VIRGIN BET

MASTERS HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 2) (GBB RACE)

for five yrs old and upwards x Total prize fund £50000

Owners Prize Money. 1st £19875, 2nd £9935, 3rd £4970, 4th £2485, 5th £1240, 6th £620 (Penalty Value £26015)

Weights raised 1lb and paragraph 34 of the Weights and Handicapping Code complied with where applicable

Leading course trainer (17-22): P Nicholls (30 wins from 153 runners, 20%) runs BROKEN HALO

Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): D Skelton (11 wins from 49 runners, 22%) runs FLEGMATIK

Fancy That: P Hobbs won this race in 2020 and 2021. The stable runs CELEBRE D’ALLEN today colours no horse age st-lb

Longest Traveller: EMPIRE STEEL trained by A M Thomson, Greenlaw, 371 miles.

1 EMPIRE STEEL (IRE) (63) 2FP12-0

9 12-0

Br Gr g Aizavoski (IRE) - Talk of Rain (FR) (Turgeon (USA)) Ryan Mania J

O Alan Wight Sandy Thomson, Greenlaw T

B Mr Nick Blanchfield Sandy Thomson Racing S

TIMEFORM VIEW Enhanced good record when mud is flying when successful at Kelso (21.6f) 12 months ago Caught the eye when mid-field over inadequate trip on at Aintree his return (19.9f) and this more his bag. Interesting. TFRHHHHI BHA143

2 RAPPER (GB) (34) 110-031

9 12-0

Br B g Scorpion (IRE) - Bling Noir (FR) (Moscow Society (USA)) Richard Patrick J

O The Home Farm Partnership Henry Daly, Ludlow T

B Mr George Stanners Humphrey Butler Ltd S

TIMEFORM VIEW Winner of 25f handicaps at Catterick and Wincanton last season and responded very well to this headgear when resuming winning ways at Cheltenham 5 weeks ago. That was a career-best performance so must be respected. TFRHHHHI BHA143

3 EVA’S OSKAR (IRE) (57) P41-621 D

9 12-0

Br Gr g Shirocco (GER) - Sardagna (FR) (Medaaly) Alan Johns J

O Sally & Richard Prince Tim Vaughan, Cowbridge T

B Mr & Mrs N. Faulks Tote, Dragonbet S

TIMEFORMVIEWLikeablechaserwhohasimprovedagainsincefittedwithavisorandresumedwinningwaysingrittyfashionatCheltenham (26f) 8 weeks ago That wasn’t the strongest race for the grade but should continue to give a good account. TFRHHHHI BHA143

4 FLEGMATIK (FR) (39) 311P-30 D

8 11-8

Br Ch g Fuisse (FR) - Crack d’Emble (FR) (Poliglote) Bridget Andrews J

O Mr N. W. Lake Dan Skelton, Alcester T

B Jean-Bernard Chapalain Ladbrokes, The Air Ambulance Service (Warwickshire & Northamptonshire) S

TIMEFORMVIEWBack-to-backwinneratKemptonayearagoandresumedwithagoodthirdatAscot(21f).Foundlittle back at Kempton last time, however, and this a tough race to bounce back in.

TFRHHIII BHA137

5 CELEBRE D’ALLEN (FR) (28) 1115-43 BF 11 11-7

Br Ch g Network (GER) - Revoltee (FR) (Grand Seigneur (FR)) Tom O’Brien J

O Mr Allan Stennett Philip Hobbs, Minehead T

B Bruno Vagne Philip Hobbs Racing S

TIMEFORMVIEW

TFRHHHII BHA136

Returnedfromalongabsencewithabanglastseason,winning3handicaps(2hurdle,1chase)andfinefifthinPlateatCheltenhamFestival.Fairreappearance fourthatWarwickbutfailedtobuildonthatatWincanton,lackinganyofthezipthatcharacterisedhiswinslastterm.Headgearapplied.

6 LARRY (GB) (39) 635P-16 C D 10 11-7

Br B g Midnight Legend - Gaspaisie (FR) (Beyssac (FR)) Jamie Moore J

O Galloping On The South Downs Partnership Gary Moore, Horsham T

B Cotley Hill Stud K M Elite Products Ltd S

TIMEFORM VIEWDecentstrikerateovertheyearsandjumpedmuchbetterthanusualwhenwinning3mhandicapchaseatAscoton return. Not quite in same form at Kempton since, however, and can’t afford to make mistakes around here.

7 EMIR SACREE (FR) (45) 6/1231-P BF

TFRHHHII BHA136

9 11-5

Br B g Network (GER) - Altesse Sacree (FR) (Daramsar (FR)) Nico de Boinville J

O Mr G. L. Porter Nicky Henderson, Lambourn T

B Graham Porter & Henrietta Charlet

TIMEFORM VIEW Signed off last term with a career-best win in 2m3f handicap chase at Chepstow but ran poorly at Hereford on return despite his good record fresh (went off favourite) Bit to prove all of a sudden. TFRHHHII BHA134

8 KAUTO RIKO (FR) (28) 453-U5U

12 11-5

Br B g Ballingarry (IRE) - Kauto Relstar (FR) (Art Bleu) Robert Dunne J

O Mr and Mrs J.Dale and Partners

Tom Gretton, Inkberrow T

B Jean-Philippe Aubert & Denis Aubert Jmc Surfacing Contractors, Treehouse Sporting Colours S

TIMEFORM VIEW Has drawn a blank since a 3m Kelso Listed success in February 2020 and let down by jumping starts this term. Others preferred. of

9 EQUUS DANCER (IRE) (45) 341/11-1

9 11-5

Br B g Jeremy (USA) - Celtic Cailin (IRE) (Beneficial) Gavin Sheehan J

O Mr Roddy Owen Peter Bowen, Haverfordwest T

B Patrick Keating Foodnet Ltd S

TIMEFORM VIEWEnhancedhisimpressivestrikerateafter18monthsoffin7-runnerhandicapchaseatHereford(20.9f,soft,16/1)45daysago,provingbetterthan everintheprocess.Remainstobeseenhowhecomesoutofthisbuthasalreadyshownhe’swellcapableofstringingwinstogether TFRHHHII BHA134

10 CASTLE ROBIN (IRE) (84) 4611-4P D BF 8 11-5

Br Ch g Robin des Champs (FR) - Coco Opera (IRE) (Lafontaine (USA)) Paul O’Brien J

O Bradley Partnership Charlie Longsdon, Chipping Norton T

B R. Lynch Merribelle Stable Llc S

TIMEFORM VIEW Ended last season on the up over fences, scoring at Doncaster and Wetherby in the spring. Respectable fourth in a good race at KelsoonreturnbutpulleduponlandinghavinglosthisactionatCheltenhamsince.Worthanotherchancebackfromabreak. TFRHHHII BHA134

11 LASKALIN (FR) (35) 6025-13 BF 8 11-4

Br B g Martaline - Laskadya (FR) (Lashkari) Charlie Deutsch J

O David & Carol Shaw Venetia Williams, Hereford T

B Christine Cheyrou Faucets Limited S

TIMEFORM VIEW Ex-Frenchwinnerwhoreturned afterawindop/10monthsoffwithemphaticsuccessin 7-runnerhandicapchaseatLudlow(25.6f,6/4), goingwithenthusiasm.However,onlythirdoffrevisedmarkatNewburyonNewYear’sEvesocareerbestisrequired. TFRHHHII BHA133

12 BANGERS AND CASH (IRE) (40) 16U-511 D

7 11-3

Br B g Fame And Glory - Cash Customer (IRE) (Bob Back (USA)) Kielan Woods J

O OAP II Ben Pauling, Naunton T

B Joyce Lee Horse & Groom East Ashling S

TIMEFORMVIEWOffthemarkoverfencesatTaunton14monthsagoand,aftersomemixeddisplays,isfirmlyontheupgradenow,showing a cracking attitude when following up his Exeter win at Market Rasen. Should make a bold bid for the hat-trick.

13 BROKEN HALO (GB) (39) 3141-06 D

TFRHHHHH BHA132

8 11-3

Br B g Kayf Tara - Miss Invincible (Invincible Spirit (IRE)) Harry Cobden J

O Giraffa Racing - BH Paul Nicholls, Ditcheat T

B Aiden Murphy Run To Global Ltd S

TIMEFORM VIEW Low-mileage 8-y-o who signed off last season by landing a 3-runner novice chase at Fontwell (21.6f, good to soft) in March. Well held both starts this term, however, and back up in trip now.

TFRHHHII BHA132

14 MOVETHECHAINS (IRE) (39) P1111-5 D 9 10-12

Br B g Robin des Champs (FR) - Clash Artist (IRE) (Saddlers’ Hall (IRE)) Niall Houlihan (3) J

O Mr O. S. Harris Gary Moore, Horsham T

B John Comerford Tote S

TIMEFORM VIEW Highly-progressive chaser last season who completed a 4-timer (all by 12 lengths or more) in handicaps over 3m at Lingfield. LookedrustypitchedintotheWelshNationalonhisreturnanditwouldbenosurprisetoseehimbackontheupatsomepoint.

DECLARED RUNNERS 14

TFRHHHII BHA127

2022: LE MILOS 7 11 6 Alan Johns 12-1 (Tim Vaughan) 8 ran

Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn first time by No 5. Visor worn by No 3.

Tongue Strap worn by No 4, 6, 8, 10, 13. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No 2, 6, 8, 9, 10

Stewards Note: CASTLE ROBIN: Following its run on 12/11/2022 it was reported that the horse lost its action.

Probable S.P’s: 13-2 Rapper (GB), Bangers And Cash (IRE), 15-2 Eva’s Oskar (IRE), 9-1 Laskalin (FR), 12-1 Castle Robin (IRE), Broken Halo (GB), 16-1 Empire Steel (IRE), Celebre d’Allen (FR), Emir Sacree (FR), Equus Dancer (IRE), 22-1 Larry (GB), 25-1 Movethechains (IRE), 28-1 Flegmatik (FR), 50-1 Kauto Riko (FR)

PLAY SMARTER

This looks a highly-competitive renewal but BANGERS AND CASH is really progressive now, impressing with the way he took command of the race before showing an excellent attitude when scoring at Market Rasen on Boxing Day, and he shades the vote over Empire Steel, who very much caught the eye on his comeback at Aintree Rapper and Eva’s Oskar are others to consider

TIMEFORM PREDICTION: 1.BANGERS AND CASH (IRE) 2.EMPIRE STEEL (IRE) 3.RAPPER

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