Nicol Hughes Food Service Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 6m 1.12s

Masterofdeception^h,t³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 122| D

3/1

Fragile but useful staying hurdler at his best and beaten just ½L on his only chase start so far, at Worcester last year. Proved his well being after a 14-month absence, when 3L third back there over hurdles last time. Claims.

Form: 4013/2-3

Ofcourseiwill³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 119| BF| C| D

10/1

Scored over 2m3½f (good) here in a novices' handicap hurdle in May, when 17lb lower. Well held from 1lb higher on chase debut two starts ago, but that was an inadequate 2m and he could do much better over this trip.

Form: 2-12245

Redemption Song^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: K Frost| OR: 118| D

3/1

Won a Market Rasen maiden hurdle (2m4½f, good to soft) in November. Has produced improved form in two runs since wind surgery. Not badly treated for this first handicap over fences. Not ruled out.

Form: 1335-33

I'm Always Trying^p,t⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 117| BF

11/2

Scored over hurdles (3m2f, good) on stable debut in June, when 10lb lower. Well held both subsequent starts, after 12lb hike. Well treated for chase debut if back in the same form as that win, but has that to prove.

Form: 32P-154

Wandrin Star^t¹⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 113| D

3/1

Debut Irish point-to-point winner last year, but has not yet managed a win under rules. Even so, has shown some ability as a chaser and is entitled to make the short-list from this mark.

Form: 44742-2

Sergeant Brody¹⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 112| DWS

6/1

Irish point-to-point winner (third start), who is 0-4 over hurdles. Nothing he showed in that sphere suggests that he will win this, but could improve after wind surgery.

Form: 314/2P8-

Forecasts

Wandrin Star (3/1), Redemption Song (3/1), Masterofdeception (3/1), I'm Always Trying (11/2), Sergeant Brody (6/1), Ofcourseiwill (10/1)

Potentially trappy, with things to prove for all the field but the suggestion is to stick with MASTEROFDECEPTION. It doesn't look to have been easy to get him to the racecourse, but he has done well on arrival and he might just have too much class for this field. Ofcourseiwill should be capable of showing more for this step up to 3m, while cases can be made one way or another for three of the other four, with Redemption Song preferred this time.