N&L Franklin Developments Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 4m 2.48s

Eyesopenwideawake²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| OR: 125| CD

3/1

In good form and chasing a hat-trick after winning a novices' maiden hurdle here (1m7½f, good) in June and then a 2m2f novices' handicap chase at Kempton last time. Up 5lb for that, but looked to be more to come and should give a very good account.

Form: 751-P11

Cracking Find¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 124| D

4/1

Back to better form again last time when winning a similar contest at Newcastle (2m½f, good). Up 2lb for that, which probably means he will need a career-best here, but generally consistent and has to enter calculations.

Form: 632-331

Get Rhythm²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 122| D

4/1

Picked up wins in a maiden hurdle and then a Ffos Las novices' handicap chase during a successful spring and showed that there is still room for improvement with a good effort on return from a break at Lingfield last month. Claims from same mark.

Form: 26-2112

Celestial Magic²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽⁵⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 120| D

12/1

Improved steadily over the past year in handicap hurdles, though the assessor has looked in control just lately. Now goes chasing and may be able to improve for that, though this is a tough ask on his first try over fences.

Form: 41214-4

Bad Boy Du Pouldu^b²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 115

9/2

Looked in need of his chase debut at Kempton in October after a summer break, but returned there last month to finish less than 2L adrift of Eyeswideopenawake in first-tie cheek pieces. 2lb better off with that rival now, which puts him in the mix.

Form: 8371-52

Nightfly^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 109

8/1

Runner-up in a Worcester handicap hurdle (2m, good to soft) in September, which was her best effort yet. Pulled up here last time over further and now tries chasing from same mark. Tough enough introduction but market check prudent.

Form: 5444-2P

Castletown^b³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: B S Hughes| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 105| BF

13/2

Equalled his best effort over hurdles at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) last time when a beaten favourite. Raised 6lb despite that defeat and now back over fences. Trip looks plenty sharp enough for him and needs to improve to get competitive.

Form: 5764-32

Forecasts

Eyesopenwideawake (3/1), Get Rhythm (4/1), Cracking Find (4/1), Bad Boy Du Pouldu (9/2), Castletown (13/2), Nightfly (8/1), Celestial Magic (12/1)

Eyeswideopenawake is in good nick and should be thereabouts once again in his hat-trick bid, while Cracking Find is another for short-lists, but the vote here goes to GET RHYTHM. Tom George's seven-year-old put in a good effort on his reappearance from a summer break and he looks capable of better this time. Bad Boy Du Pouldu also has to be on short-lists given his 2lb pull with Eyeswideopenawake and he would be no surprise winner.