FIFTH RACE 3.50

THE BETFRED PLAY FRED’S 5 MILLION HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 3) for five yrs old and upwards x Total prize fund £15650 Owners Prize Money. 1st £6321, 2nd £3160, 3rd £1581, 4th £790, 5th £394. (Penalty Value £8264.76)

Leading course trainer (17-22): S J Smith (14 wins from 74 runners, 19%) runs THE PADDY PIE

Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): D Skelton (7 wins from 46 runners, 15%) runs QUID PRO QUO colours no horse age st-lb

Weightwatcher: COURTLAND won off a handicap mark of 122, his rating is now down 8lb to 114.

Longest Traveller: GOLDEN WHISKY trained by E Williams, Llancarfan, 205 miles.

1 EVANDER (IRE) (689) 312P21/- D

8 12-2

Br Br g Arcadio (GER) - Blazing Belle (IRE) Henry Brooke J

O Highclere TBRacing Henry Moore & Partner Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero, Malpas T

B Frank McGuinness Swansway, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Ltd S

TIMEFORM VIEW Did little wrong over hurdles and took well to this sphere during 2020/21 campaign, which he signed off on a winning note in a 21/2mLudlowhandicap Resumeshereonthesamemarkbutwellbeinghastobetakenontrustfollowingalmost2yearsoff TFRHHIII BHA132

2 GOLDEN WHISKY (IRE) (53) 6143-62 D 10 11-12

Br Ch g Flemensfirth (USA) - Derry Vale (IRE) Adam Wedge J

O Mr & Mrs William Rucker Evan Williams, Llancarfan T

B Patrick Kavanagh Tote S

TIMEFORM VIEWSuccessfulatChepstowlasttermandrightbacktoformwhenrunner-upinthisseason’srenewalofthesame19.4fhandicapchaseinfirst-time cheekpieces.ThewinnerdidtheformnoharmwhensecondinavaluableCheltenhamcontestnexttimeandheshouldhaveaparttoplay.

3 MAGIC DANCER (GB) (59) 5321-13 D

TFRHHHII BHA128

11 11-11

Br B g Norse Dancer (IRE) - King’s Siren (IRE) Richard Patrick J

O The Magic Partnership Kerry Lee, Presteigne T

B Littleton Stud Fitzdares Limited S

TIMEFORM VIEWPickedupwhereheleftofflastseasonbymakingawinningreappearanceatCheltenhaminNovember.Notinthesameformat Herefordsubsequently,though,andwillneedtobeatthetopofhisgameinordertogetbackonthescoresheethere.

4 ENZO D’AIRY (FR) (18) 136/-102

Br B g Anzillero (GER) - Panzara d’Airy (FR)

TFRHHIII BHA127

9 11-10

Charlie Deutsch J

O Dr Moira Hamlin Venetia Williams, Hereford T

B Mr Claude-Yves Pelsy Faucets Limited S

TIMEFORM VIEWEx-FrenchhurdlerwhoranrightuptohisbestonthebackofalengthyabsencewhengainingthirdchasesuccessatChepstowinDecember Bynomeansdisgracedwhenchasinghomeawell-treatedrivalatLingfield(21/2m,goodtosoft)recentlyandhe’samajorplayer.

5 QUID PRO QUO (IRE) (99) 16/-1140

Br Ch g Beat Hollow - Thieving Gypsy (IRE)

TFRHHHHI BHA126

7 11-10

Harry Skelton J

O Mr John P. McManus Dan Skelton, Alcester T

B Rosetown Bloodstock Ltd Ladbrokes S

TIMEFORM VIEWBumperwinnerwholandedhisfirst2startsoverhurdlesinmaiden/noviceeventsatupto21.5flastyear However,hascomeupshortina coupleofGrade2eventssincereturningfromabreakinOctoberandhe’spitchedintoacompetitivehandicapforthischasedebut.

6 MAYPOLE CLASS (IRE) (50) P/PP1-0P D

TFRHHIII BHA126

9 11-9

Br B g Gold Well - Maypole Queen (IRE) Kevin Brogan J

O Delancey Jonjo O’Neill, Cheltenham T

B Eamonn Dempsey Wasdell Group S

TIMEFORMVIEWBouncedbacktoformfromoutofthebluewhenscoringatCarlislelastspringbuthasanall-or-nothing profile as a chaser and his efforts so far this season have been poor Has undergone a wind op

7 SUPER SIX (GB) (19) 521-453

Br Gr g Montmartre (FR) - Hiho Silver Lining

O Baker, Dodd & Lakin

TFRHIIII BHA125

6 11-4

Jordan Nailor J

Nigel Twiston-Davies, Cheltenham T

B T. G. Lane Agetur (UK) Ltd S

TIMEFORM VIEW Dual bumper winner who was successful twice from 5 starts over hurdles last season. Best effort yet in this sphere when third back from a 3-month break at Hereford (20.9f, good to soft) and appealing here off a potentially handy mark.

TFRHHHHH BHA120

8 THE PADDY PIE (IRE) (23) 33-3612 CD 10 11-3

Br B g Beneficial - Salsita (FR) Ross Chapman J

O Mr John Wade Sue Smith, Bingley T

B Patrick McElroy

Tuffa Footwear Ltd S

TIMEFORM VIEWEndedalengthylosingsequencedespitebeing6lboutoftheweightsatWetherby(19.4f,goodtosoft)onBoxingDay. Good the same C&D next time and he’s in with an each-way shout.

119

9 HIGH MOON (GB) (17) 10-0323

Br B g Midnight Legend - Dizzy Frizzy

O Miss Maria D. Myco

8 11-2

Nathan Moscrop J

Rebecca Menzies, Sedgefield T

B Jethro Bloodstock Bluegrass Horse Feeds S

TIMEFORM VIEWFairlyusefulhurdleswinnerwhohasacquittedhimselfwellonall3startssincesentchasing,recentlyfinishingacreditablethirdoff thismarkatAyr(21.5f,soft).Oughttopickuparaceinthisspherebeforelongbutmayfindthisashadetoocompetitive.

TFRHHIII BHA118

10 IF NOT FOR DYLAN (IRE) (20) 240451 D 8 11-1

Br B g Doyen (IRE) - Exit Stage Left (IRE)

O Mr A. B. Hamilton

B Martin Cullinane

Derek Fox J

Andrew Hamilton, Carluke T

TIMEFORM VIEW Returned to form following a string of low-key efforts when striking at Sedgefield (19.3f, soft), the application of first-time cheekpiecesandachangeoftacticsseeminglythecatalysts.However,hasmoreonhisplateup5lbinthistougherrace. TFRHHHII BHA117

11 GARINCHA (IRE) (48) 24U3-14 D

7 11-1

Br B g Ask - Mandy Winger Danny McMenamin J

O Mr R Flower and Dajam Neil Mulholland, Limpley Stoke T

B Mr K. D. Cotter Tote S

TIMEFORMVIEWSuccessfuloverhurdlesatWetherbyinDecember2021andmadeawinningreturn/chasedebutatBangor(20.3f,heavy) in November, albeit left in front soon after last. Just a fair fourth at Exeter since but couldn’t rule out all the same TFRHHHII BHA117

12 COURTLAND (IRE) (49) 011-5U5

8 10-12

Br B g Court Cave (IRE) - Media View (IRE) Sean Bowen J

O Miss Jayne Brace & Mr Gwyn Brace Peter Bowen, Haverfordwest T

B Mrs Rosemary Ross Peter and Karen Bowen Racing S

TIMEFORM VIEW Took really well to chasing with 2m wins at Ffos Las and Newton Abbot in summer 2021. Well below par in 3 starts since returning from 15 months off in October, though, and he’s probably best watched for now. TFRHIIII BHA114

DECLARED RUNNERS 12 2022: ADRIMEL (FR) 7 11 8 Stan Sheppard 4-6 (Tom Lacey) 3 ran

Tongue Strap worn by No 3, 5, 7. Hood, Tongue Strap worn by No 1.

Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No 2, 3, 10, 11. Running for the first time since Wind Surgery No 6.

Stewards Note:

GOLDEN WHISKY: Following its run on 27/12/2022 it was reported that the horse hung right handed.

SUPER SIX: Following its run on 30/1/2023 it was reported that the horse hung left handed.

Probable S.P’s: 11-2 Enzo d’Airy (FR), 6-1 Golden Whisky (IRE), 7-1 Super Six (GB), 15-2 The Paddy Pie (IRE), 9-1 If Not For Dylan (IRE), 10-1 Garincha (IRE), 11-1 Magic Dancer (GB), 12-1 High Moon (GB), 14-1 Quid Pro Quo (IRE), 22-1 Evander (IRE), 33-1 Courtland (IRE), 50-1 Maypole Class (IRE)

The vote goes to SUPER SIX, who shaped encouragingly back from a break at Hereford on just third start in this sphere and he is probably capable of a good deal better than his current mark would imply Enzo d’Airy bumped into a well-treated rival at Lingfield and he is feared most, albeit only marginally as Golden Whisky is also high on the shortlist having chased home the progressive Fugitif at Chepstow last time The Paddy Pie is another to consider in a competitive handicap