The Rosemary Gasson Big Birthday Celebration

Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 2) (GBB Race)

TWO MILES ABOUT ONE FURLONGS (2m 213yds) for four yrs old and upwards

Total prize fund £24000

Owners Prize Money Winner £10015; Second £5009; Third £2503; Fourth £1253. (Penalty Value £13070.40)

SEE PAGE 38 FOR CONDITIONS OF THIS RACE.

1 MERCIAN PRINCE (IRE) (33) 251-150 12 12 0

B g Midnight Legend - Bongo Fury (FR)

O Mr Paul Murphy Br P. Murphy

T Amy Murphy, Newmarket S CLASS1PERSONNEL, Amy Murphy Racing Ltd

PURPLE and YELLOW diabolo, YELLOW sleeves and cap.

TIMEFORM VIEW Veteran campaigner who enhanced his fine Kempton record on the back of 7 months off when landing a 2 1/4m handicap in May under a typically fluent front-running display. Below his best on both subsequent outings (latest over hurdles) so probably best to look elsewhere. Star RatingHHIII Official BHA Rating 139 JACK QUINLAN

2 SIR TIVO (FR) (21)

B g Deportivo - Miss Possibility (USA)

14P4-12 CD 9 11 4

O Mrs J. A. Ashley Br Mr Christophe Jouandou

T Gary Hanmer, Tattenhall

BLACK, MAUVE star, MAUVE sleeves, MAROON stars, BLACK cap, MAUVE stars

TIMEFORM VIEW Didn’t have to improve to win an uncompetitive handicap at Southwell in May and lost little in defeat when going down by just a short head at Uttoxeter (16f, good) since, collared in the dying strides Up another 2lb for that near miss but can get involved again.

Star RatingHHHHI Official BHA Rating 129 SEAN BOWEN

3 CRACKING DESTINY (IRE) (19)

B g Dubai Destination (USA) - Cracking Gale (IRE)

0/64-341 CD 10 10 11

O Mrs Louise Whillans Br B. D. Darrer

T Ewan Whillans, Hawick

BLACK, PINK star, PINK and BLACK check sleeves, PINK cap, BLACK stars

TIMEFORM VIEW Confirmed this season’s previous promise and ended an almost 2-year losing run when scoring at this C&D (good to soft) earlier this month, taking his record here to 2-2. He remains well-in on old form and must be feared provided this doesn’t come too soon.

Star RatingHHHHH Official BHA Rating 122 CRAIG NICHOL

4 BLUEBERRY WINE (IRE) (25) 514-112 D BF7 10 9

B g Dylan Thomas (IRE) - Buttonhole Rose (IRE)

O Red Rum Racing 2

T Donald McCain, Cholmondeley

MAROON, YELLOW diamond, YELLOW cap.

Br Joseph Neville

S Proactive Personnel Limited

TIMEFORM VIEW Likeable type who followed up his Huntingdon success with career-best victory at Aintree (15.8f, good to firm) last month. Lost little in defeat against a well-treated rival at Worcester 25 days ago and a career best is needed to regain the winning thread.

Star RatingHHHII Official BHA Rating 120 BRIAN

5 FEEL THE PINCH (GB) (43) 13U-311 D 9 10 2

B g Librettist (USA) - Liqueur Rose

O B Jones & Son

T Robbie Llewellyn, Swindon

BLACK and PINK stripes, hooped sleeves, BLACK cap.

Br C. F. C. Jackson

TIMEFORM VIEW Resumed winning ways in 4-runner handicap chase at Ffos Las in May and followed up back hurdling in another small-field scenario at Bangor (16.7f, good). Mark unchanged and he could have a part to play back over the larger obstacles Engaged 2.50 Cartmel Saturday. Star RatingHHHII Official BHA Rating 113 TOBY

6 ROMANOR (GB) (6)

B g Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) - Salinia (IRE)

O Four hens and a cock

T Seamus Mullins, Amesbury

BROWN, BEIGE striped sleeves, BEIGE cap, RED star

30-6232 CD 9 10 2

Br BBA 2010 Ltd

S We Do Vans

TIMEFORM VIEW Bagged a trio of handicap chases at Newton Abbot in 2022, the latest from a 1lb higher mark in September Not scored since but wasn’t seen to best effect under trademark dropped-out tactics there 6 days ago, finishing with running left. Not discounted.

Star RatingHHHII Official BHA Rating 112 BRADLEY

(5)

Number of Declared Runners 6 (Exacta)

Tongue Strap worn by No. 1, 2, 4, 5. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No. 1.

2022: LARCH HILL (IRE) 9 10 10 Brian Hughes 10-3 (Charles & Adam Pogson) 5 ran

BETTING FORECAST:

3-1 Cracking Destiny (IRE), 10-3 Sir Tivo (FR), 5-1 Blueberry Wine (IRE), Feel The Pinch (GB), 8-1 Mercian Prince (IRE), 17-2 Romanor (GB)

RACE SUMMARY:

Tough to rule out any of the sextet but preference is for CRACKING DESTINY, who confirmed this season’s previous promise when scoring over C&D earlier this month and can maintain his unbeaten record at this venue. Sir Tivo has returned better than ever this term, so he could be the one to give the selection most to think about, with Feel The Pinch rounding off the shortlist.

1-2-3:

1.CRACKING DESTINY (IRE) 2.SIR TIVO (FR) 3.FEEL THE PINCH

FREE form for all British and Irish meetings is available online every day at timeform.com/free

G R E A T Br It Is H Bo Nu S Sc He Me

The Great British Bonus (GBB) Scheme offers multiple bonuses of up to £20,000 per eligible race for British-bred fillies and mares.

T H E Fa Mi Ly Of Ro Se Ma Ry Ga Ss On

The Family of Rosemary Gasson have generously sponsored this race and will kindly award a memento to the winning owner as well as a £50 cash prize to the stable employee responsible for the best turned out horse