Heineken UK Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 3m 53.3s

Noche De Reyes²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 129| D

9/4

All three successes in this country have come at Ludlow but he put in a bold show at Stratford last time in a better race than this. Would be vulnerable to a better handicapped horse but few arrive in better form.

Form: 2362-22

Deauville Dancer^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: David Dennis| OR: 127| D

85/40

Has not been overstretched to land his last two races and stable make a rare visit here. Up in the weights and raised in class but hard to oppose with yard 3-7 in past fortnight.

Form: 328-211

Owen Na View²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 125| CD

13/2

Has two C&D victories and now down to his last winning mark. Looked to be on the way back at Worcester before a tame effort at Aintree last time. Headgear is removed and he needs to prove his appetite for the game.

Form: 52P-04P

Vodka Wells^p³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: R Menzies| OR: 118| D

9/2

Won with plenty in hand at Hexham before finishing 21L behind Deauville Dancer in May. Looks better on stiffer tracks than this and has plenty to find on form.

Form: 93P-213

Toledo Gold^t⁶³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 102| CD

8/1

Front-running veteran who has gone two years without a win. Handicap mark has been tumbling and he has had a further eight weeks off since his return to action at Sedgefield (well behind Muwalla and Vodka Wells). Made a series of errors that day and possible he has had a further setback which means this will be needed.

Form: 74P44-5

Muwalla^t²³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 99| D

20/1

Sedgefield specialist who beat Vodka Wells there two months ago and reopposes on similar terms. Disappointing on both completed starts since and faces better rivals here. Stable had a winner here on Wednesday.

Form: 46-156U

Forecasts

Deauville Dancer (85/40), Noche De Reyes (9/4), Vodka Wells (9/2), Owen Na View (13/2), Toledo Gold (8/1), Muwalla (20/1)

The topweights DEAUVILLE DANCER and Noche De Reyes look the two most likely types in this. The former is enjoying his racing at present and has registered two smooth successes which have resulted in a 12lb rise in the weights. Noche de Reyes is an honest sort who looks to have been in the grip of the handicapper. However, there is little depth to this race. With his main rival rising in the weights and class, he has an obvious chance to gain an overdue win.