FOURTH RACE 3.00

THE CRS & WESTEXE VETERANS’ HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE

(CLASS 4)

for ten yrs old and upwards x Total prize fund £14000

Owners Prize Money. 1st £5655, 2nd £2827, 3rd £1414, 4th £707, 5th £353 (Penalty Value £7393.40)

Leading course trainer (17-22): E Lavelle (13 wins from 74 runners, 18%) runs PEMBERLEY

Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): J Tizzard (4 wins from 25 runners, 16%) runs WEST APPROACH colours no horse age st-lb

Longest Traveller: FLYING VERSE trained by D Dennis, Banbury, 103 miles.

1 WEST APPROACH (GB) (22) 3-2P2PU CD 13 12-0

Br B g Westerner - Ardstown Brendan Powell J

O Mr C. L. Tizzard Joe Tizzard, Sherborne T

B R. F. and S. D. Knipe Coral Racing Limited S

TIMEFORM VIEW He’s been in and out this season though might have found latest run coming too soon. Others more solid. TFRHHHII BHA120

2 THE KINGS WRIT (IRE) (33) U6-P123 12 11-12

Br B g Brian Boru - Letterwoman (IRE) Ben Godfrey (3) J

O Mr D Stevens & Mrs S Stevens Kayley Woollacott, Crewkerne T

B Patrick Mulcahy The Firehouse Somerset S

TIMEFORM VIEWSnapped a long losing run with a narrow success in similar event on deep ground at Warwick (3m) on New Year’s Eve, making all and jumpingwell.Similarformonthebackofa4lbrisewhenplacednext2startsandanotherboldshowlookslikelyeasedapound. TFRHHHHI BHA118

3 SMUGGLER’S BLUES (IRE) (86) 524-4FP D 11 11-6

Br B g Yeats (IRE) - Rosy de Cyborg (FR) Jonathan Burke J

O D Rea & Mr T.R.George Tom George Slad T

B Mr Walter Connors HBA Media S

TIMEFORM VIEW Snapped a losing run in first-time cheekpieces at Warwick last winter and would’ve gone close but for falling at the second-last over C&D in December However, let down by jumping when running modestly at Warwick next time TFRHHHII BHA112

4 BERMEO (IRE) (79) U41P-PP D 12 11-6

Br B g Definite Article - Miss Blueyes (IRE) Ben Bromley (5) J

O Manhole Covers Ltd Harry Fry, Corscombe T

B T. Boylan Manhole Covers Ltd, Grosvenor Sport S

TIMEFORM VIEW Capitalised on the handicapper’s mercy when making a winning debut for the Harry Fry stable at Newbury (3m, good) last season but he’s been pulled up on all 3 of his outings since. TFRHIIII BHA112

5 DUC DE BEAUCHENE (FR) (29) 050502 BF 10 11-5

Br B g Saddler Maker (IRE) - Quatia d’Angron (FR) Fergus Gillard (3) J

O Mr John P. McManus David Pipe, Wellington T

B Raymond Bellanger W & S Recycling S

TIMEFORMVIEWScoredoverfences atNewbury(22.4f)lastspringbutnotsogoodthisseason.However,reducedmark reflects that and was second of 4 in a similar event at Hereford last month. Change of headgear. TFRHHHHI BHA111

6 FLYING VERSE (GB) (24) 15P331 11 11-4

Br B g Yeats (IRE) - Flight Sequence Ned Fox (7) J

O Dr C. A. Barnett David Dennis, Banbury T

B Jim Cockburn DD Racing Ltd S

TIMEFORMVIEWHashardlyprovedreliablethisseasonbuthadagoodspelloverfencesinthesummer,recordingback-to-backwinsatStratford(22.6f)andMusselburgh (31.5f)inOctober/November,andresumedwinningwaysatDoncasterunderthisriderearlierthismonth.Bigshoutifreproducingthat. TFRHHHHH BHA110

7

BALLINSLEA BRIDGE (IRE) (37) 0421UP 11 11-2

Br B g Pierre - Feelin’ Looser (IRE) Ben Poste J

O Robin Dickin Racing Club

Harriet Dickin, Bourton-on-the-Water T

B Butlersgrove Stud Clay Street Property Consultants S

TIMEFORMVIEWRunner-uponreturnatHuntingdonanddulywentonebetteratMarketRasen(3m,soft)inDecember,endingalosing run of almost 5 years. However, failed to complete both starts since, running no sort of race over C&D latest TFRHHIII BHA108

8 PEMBERLEY (IRE) (29) FP-2P43 10 10-13

Br B g Darsi (FR) - Eyebright (IRE)

O Laurie Kimber & Partners

Tom Bellamy J

Emma Lavelle, Marlborough T

B William James Hatherden Horse Transport S

TIMEFORM VIEW Warwick winner in December 2021 but more lows than highs since, well held last 3 starts. TFRHHHII BHA105

Br B g Voix du Nord

O Mr Christopher John Sprake Keiran Burke, Whitcombe T

B Mr Alain Aupetit

TIMEFORM VIEW Dual point winner but he’s 0-12 under Rules and is probably best watched on return here for another new yard

DECLARED RUNNERS 9 2022: KELTUS (FR) 12 10 4 Mr Charlie O’Shea 14-1 (Jeremy Scott) 7 ran Blinkers worn first time by No 5. Tongue Strap worn by No 4, 5.

Blinkers, Tongue Strap worn by No 6. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No 2, 3, 4.

Stewards Note:

BERMEO: Following its run on 7/1/2023 it was reported that the horse would prefer a quicker surface.

PEMBERLEY: Following its run on 26/2/2023 it was reported that the horse never travelled and lost a shoe

Probable S.P’s: 3-1 Flying Verse (GB), 10-3 The Kings Writ (IRE), 4-1 Duc de Beauchene (FR), 9-1 West Approach (GB), 10-1 Smuggler’s Blues (IRE), 12-1 Pemberley (IRE), 22-1 Ballinslea Bridge (IRE), 40-1 Bermeo (IRE), 50-1 Hotel du Nord (FR)

PLAY SMARTER

FLYING VERSE has hardly proved reliable this season but Ned Fox got a good tune out of him when scoring at Doncaster and the pair are taken to follow up The Kings Writ can make his presence felt again, while Duc de Beauchene can be competitive again off his reduced mark.