totequadpot 'Auld Reekie' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 5m 5.74s

Max Ward⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 145| D

5/2

Won twice last term and was only 4L behind Top Notch in fourth at Aintree to close the season. Below par on return at Ascot in November but ought to be fitter now so should go well.

Form: 3F214-6

Upsilon Bleu³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Craig Nichol| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 142| D

4/1

Useful handicapper over fences, run well both starts this term, latest when beaten just over 3L into fifth of eight at Ascot (2m1f, good to soft) in November. Second in this last year and just 2lb higher now.

Form: 6210-25

Knockgraffon^p,t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: O Murphy| OR: 141| D

7/2

Looked a useful novice at times last season for Dan Skelton before losing his way towards the end of the term. Ran well for a long way on debut for this yard at Cheltenham last month and cannot be discounted over longer trip.

Form: 3125-45

King's Wharf^t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: D R Fox| T: A M Thomson| OR: 135| D

18/1

Record over fences is 3-14, most recently success coming at Kelso in 2m1f good-ground Class 3 contest in May, perhaps fortuitously. Fit from couple of hurdles outings since joining this trainer and capable of getting in the mix at best.

Form: 175057

Indian Temple⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Reed⁽⁷⁾| T: T Reed| OR: 133| CD

10/3

Former C&D winner who improved again last season, adding two more wins to his CV. Faded late on at Wetherby when last spotted in November but perfectly capable of having a say in this.

Form: 03-5135

Mr Boss Man^p1⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: W T Kennedy| T: N Slevin| OR: 123

8/1

Just the one win from nine over fences, coming at Kilbeggan in June (3m1f, good to yielding). Tends to be a bit in and out and potentially high enough in the ratings for this based on recent efforts in Ireland.

Form: 720F48

Forecasts

Max Ward (5/2), Indian Temple (10/3), Knockgraffon (7/2), Upsilon Bleu (4/1), Mr Boss Man (8/1), King's Wharf (18/1)

Just the six lining up for the 'Auld Reekie' this time around and last year's runner-up Upsilon Bleu will have leading claims of going one better. He won next time out off this rating and his two runs back from a break have been rock solid. He might play second fiddle once again however with MAX WARD favoured to collect. He ended last season with a pleasing run in an Aintree Grade 1 for novices' and should be all the better now having had a run at Ascot to sharpen him up. This longer trip also looks likely to suit. Indian Temple knows how to win around here and improved again last season, ensuring he's respected along with Knockgraffon, who shaped well for a long way on his reappearance at Cheltenham.