Progressive chaser Pontresina 'on the right side of the handicap'

2.40 Taunton
Arthur & Peggy White Memorial Handicap Chase | 2m7f | 4yo+ | RTV/ITV4

Which do you prefer – the unbeaten improver or the horse whose form was given a huge boost last Saturday?

Pontresina is the one who has yet to suffer a defeat on course over fences, albeit he was demoted to second by the stewards on his chasing debut at Fontwell in September.

Both there and at Kempton, where he made amends with a gutsy victory last month, the point-to-point winner showed a fine jumping technique that makes it obvious why he has left his hurdling form behind this season. There looks more still to come from him.

However, he has also shown himself a strong-galloping stayer, the sort who is less than certain to be ideally suited by the relative test of speed at the trip presented by 2m7f on good ground round this sharp track.

Irish Prophecy is the one whose form was advertised by last weekend's Badger Beers Chase success for El Presente, who had beaten him by just a length when the pair clashed at Exeter last month.

The first two had the rest on the stretch some way out that day and pulled clear in the style of chasers who were clearly well handicapped.

That is less obviously the case off a mark 7lb higher for Irish Prophecy, for whom cheekpieces are not certain to be so effective for a second time.

Of the rest, 3m2f Carlisle winner Looksnowtlikebrian will not find this track playing to his strengths and last season's veterans' chase final fourth On Tour seems less effective outside his own age group nowadays.
Analysis by David Carr

What they say

Emma Lavelle, trainer of Irish Prophecy
He is suited by better ground. It was a shame he had to be taken out of the Badger Beers [Silver Trophy] as he had a great battle with the winner El Presente when second to him at Exeter on his last start. The form has worked out brilliantly and he's in good form.

Irish Prophecy: 'The form has worked out brilliantly and he's in good form'Credit: Pool

Tim Vaughan, trainer of Looksnowtlikebrian
He's been in good form and ran well last time. We've been looking for good ground for him. The course might be a little sharp but he's won at Carlisle, so it may not be too much of a problem. Richard Johnson has won on him before and we book him when we can.

Evan Williams, trainer of On Tour
We needed to run him somewhere after he unseated at Chepstow last time and this race cut up a bit. He needs to get the show back on the road. He's more than capable and the ground should suit. It's just a case of whether the old legs still have a bit of bounce. It could also depend on which side of the bed he gets out of in the morning.

Oliver Sherwood, trainer of Pontresina
He's shown improvement in his two starts this season, including when narrowly winning at Kempton last month. Chasing seems to have been the making of him. He likes good ground and he's on the right side of the handicap. He's in great form and jumps well.
Reporting by Jonathan Harding

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