188bet.co.uk Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 5m 30.60s

Grey Gold⁶⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 12-2| J: R Johnson| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 142| D

7/2

Lightly-raced for one of his years and has been well-placed to win seven of his 25 chase starts, including a claiming chase at Ffos Las (2m3½f, soft) last time. Ought to make his presence felt here with the Champion Jockey riding for the first time.

Form: 521P5-1

Special Catch⁵²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: J M Jefferson| OR: 138| BF| D

11/4

Scored on debut for this yard and in good form since. Entitled to come on for his recent reappearance effort and worthy of respect back up in trip for a yard and jockey that do well around here.

Form: P1322-6

Zarib¹⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 130

7/1

Has won just one of his last 17 starts and while that came over a similar trip and mark, it was entirely different ground. Respectable start for this yard at Hexham in June over hurdles and capable off this mark over fences so can't be dismissed.

Form: 1F455-4

Astracad²³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 126| D

2/1

Stirke-rate of two wins from his last 34 starts is off-putting but that doesn't tell the whole story and more consistent than that record suggests. Has run well here before, arrives on a career low chase mark and useful conditional takes off 3lb.

Form: 284-P33

Caraline^t1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 114| CD

6/1

Won four in a row, winning the last of those races here over C&D. Loves testing conditions but she's been very disappointing on her last three starts and needs the first-time tongue-tie to see her in a better light.

Form: 432PF-4

Forecasts

Astracad (2/1), Special Catch (11/4), Grey Gold (7/2), Caraline (6/1), Zarib (7/1)

ASTRACAD could be worth chancing on a career-low mark in this sphere and he's been running well lately without managing to get his head in front. A useful conditional takes off 3lb and he's more consistent than some of his rivals. Grey Gold gets the services of Richard Johnson for the first time today and is likely to run well after his win last time out while Special Catch should come on for his recent run and can't be ruled out.