H Taylor & Sons Butchers & Bakers Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:07 | Winning time: 5m 13.8s

Star Tackle³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| OR: 114| BF

13/8

Point-to-point winner in 2016 and registered his best result in five rules starts when finishing runner-up at Ffos Las (2m5f, heavy) last time out. Still in front when unseating prior to that and he races off a 5lb higher mark today.

Form: 1/553-U2

Dica³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁵⁾| T: Paul Collins| OR: 112| CD

15/2

Completing a double when victorious over C&D on good ground back in October. Ran well to be third off his revised 7lb higher mark at Newcastle (good) subsequently and he is likely to run well again today.

Form: 232113

Indian Voyage^t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 110| C

10/1

Victorious over 2m5f on good-to-soft ground here in October and ran well to be fourth on soft ground subsequently. Races off a mark 3lb higher than for his latest success today.

Form: 535P14

Azert De Coeur⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Tony Kelly| T: R Menzies| OR: 109| D

18/1

Winner once from 13 starts over fences and finished well beaten when making his debut for this stable over 2m1f at Kelso (good) last month. Probably best watched at present.

Form: 15U2P-5

Whitsundays^t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 109| BF| C

4/1

Recorded a spring double when winning at Kelso (good) over an extended 2m5f in April. Had previous scored over an extended 2m here and he is interesting having finished runner-up off this mark at Bangor (soft) last time out.

Form: 2211-32

Oscar O'scar^p²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Finian O'Toole⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 103| CD

13/2

Successful over C&D in February 2016 and put in some decent efforts earlier this year. Handicap mark is falling following a couple of defeats this autumn.

Form: 82-P445

Dartford Warbler⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 100| BF

6/1

Ran well when beaten a neck over hurdles at Uttoxeter (good) last month. Struggled on his return to fences subsequently and others make more appeal.

Form: 345-625

Forecasts

Star Tackle (13/8), Whitsundays (4/1), Dartford Warbler (6/1), Oscar O'scar (13/2), Dica (15/2), Indian Voyage (10/1), Azert De Coeur (18/1)

WHITSUNDAYS ran well off this mark last time out and he can go one better than when finishing second on that occasion by taking this handicap chase. The selection has failed to finish outside of the first three in seven starts over fences and can get the better of Dica who ran well to finish fourth in his bid to complete a hat-trick last time. Top weight Star Tackle has been running well in recent times and he can take third.