Heineken UK Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 3m 54.1s

Duke Of Navan⁵⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Harding| T: N G Richards| OR: 140

5/1

One time classy performer, and a past winner of Kelso's Morebattle Hurdle (2013). Enjoyed a mixed season as a novice over fences in 2014/15, which culminated in a Listed Handicap success at Ayr in April 2015. Absent since competing in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree in October 2015, he makes a long awaited return, at a track which promises to suit, but overall it's difficult to know what to expect.

Form: F221/45-

Pain Au Chocolat⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: R Menzies| OR: 135

5/2

His pair of chasing successes came as a novice for Dan Skelton during the 2015/16 campaign, but he has been switched to this trainer after a largely disappointing season this time around. His chasing mark has fallen from 145 to 135 since November 2016, and it will be interesting to see if this fast emerging trainer can rekindle his zest.

Form: 62P250

Ut Majeur Aulmes^p1,t³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 134

11/4

A five time career winner who landed the novices limited handicap chase at the Perth April Festival in 2014. Clearly thrives late in the season, and notched a double during March 2016 (at Newbury and Newton Abbot). Both trip and ground should suit, and a key player if reproducing his 6L second to Gino Trail at Haydock in December 2016. Wears a tongue tie and first time cheek-pieces.

Form: 11-4258

Mr Mole^b⁸⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 132

20/1

Talented but enigmatic and appears to have regressed during the course of the past 15 months. However, the handicapper has taken a slight chance in dropping him in the weights since falling at Sedgefield in January. Stable could be in better form and more cut in the ground would help.

Form: 50-P8PF

Valseur Du Granval^t¹¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 129

2/1

Appreciates genuinely good ground, as he's demonstrated in each of his three victories over fences (Towcester, Kempton and Chepstow). Pulled up on his sole visit to this track in April 2016, but he was a novice then (third run over fences) and he's thrived since. Slightly below par when last on the track (third of four at Doncaster in December), but could prove a different proposition returning a fresh horse on this ground.

Form: 421143

Forecasts

Valseur Du Granval (2/1), Pain Au Chocolat (5/2), Ut Majeur Aulmes (11/4), Duke Of Navan (5/1), Mr Mole (20/1)

A small field, but a competitive race. Duke of Navan clearly possesses the class to dispatch these rivals, but he's nine now and is returning from a lengthy absence. Similar question marks persist for Pain Au Chocolat who has been switched to Rebecca Menzies as his owners seek to get his career back on path, whilst Mr Mole is often simply Mr Mole nowadays. Therefore, the southern based raiders look set to battle it out for the prize, with both UT MAJEUR AULMES and Valseur Du Granval likely to revel on a decent racing surface. The former is a course winner in April 2014, and with the application of cheek-pieces most likely helpful, he gets the vote with Nick Scholfield aboard.