Get Hugh Taylor's Tips On attheraces.com Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 6m 34.07s

Dell' Arca^b,t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 137

3/1

Sole win over fences was over 2m4f (good) at Uttoxeter three years ago, though stays this far. May have finished closer than his 4L defeat at Cheltenham last time if he has been more fluent at the last. In the mix but needs to eek out a bit more.

Form: P75603-

Southfield Theatre^b¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134| BF

7/2

Without a win since February 2015 and although he acts on good, he would probably prefer good to soft ground to be at his best. Ran well enough at Kempton last time and handicapper now relenting but still has it to prove over this far.

Form: 493-PP3

Sonneofpresenting³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 133

7/1

Yet to win over further than 2m7f, but goes well on a sound surface and was not beaten far over a similar trip to this at Warwick in September. Certainly on a feasible mark after slight drop but needs to bounce back from below par reappearance.

Form: 13126-P

Drumlee Sunset^t⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 131

5/1

Point-to-point winner who has been kept to trips shorter than 3m under rules. Good ground suits and he ran well from this mark when last seen at Warwick in February. Goes well when fresh and there is more than one reason to believe he can go well.

Form: 22P/292-

Fourth Act^b,t³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 125| BF

11/2

2-17 over fences and was beaten just 1¼L from today's mark in a 3m Sandown handicap chase (soft) in March, his best effort of last season. Below par last time but stays 3m4f, acts on a sound surface and cannot be ruled out.

Form: 10043P

Lamb Or Cod^t¹²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 122| CD

9/2

His best efforts have been on good ground and he scored over C&D on good to firm back in 2014. Not as good these days and now 8lb lower than his last win (in 2016). Recent efforts have offered little encouragement.

Form: P4/PF0-2

Forecasts

Dell' Arca (3/1), Southfield Theatre (7/2), Lamb Or Cod (9/2), Drumlee Sunset (5/1), Fourth Act (11/2), Sonneofpresenting (7/1)

DRUMLEE SUNSET is interesting now sent over a stayers' trip for the first time over fences. A former point-to-point winner, he has conditions to suit and goes well when fresh, so he could be the answer here. Sonneofpresenting has a poor run last time to put behind him but if he can, then he should be very competitive, while Fourth Act, Southfield Theatre and Dell' Arca all have things to prove but can't be confidently ruled out.