Smarkets Betting Exchange Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:56 | Winning time: 4m 7.2s

Middlebrow^t⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 113

3/1

Won twice over fences last season despite making serious jumping errors, and has finished weakly on more recent starts, suggesting an issue. Excuses with usual tongue tie missing last time, but still must be regarded as risky.

Form: B127-44

Halcyon Days^p¹⁵⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Menzies| OR: 108| BF| CD

15/2

Ran well when second at Kelso in April, but runs either side of that less encouraging, and he is building up a rather patchy record over fences.

Form: 24PP2-6

Sleep In First⁵⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 104| CD

7/1

Only two wins since 2014 have come at Hexham, the latest in May over 2m. Ran well on next couple of starts, but took little interest under a claiming rider last time. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 212245

Roxyfet¹⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 103| D

33/1

Best effort in the spring when third in a 2m handicap chase at Wetherby in March, but ended season with a couple of poor runs, and needs to find his best form now, for all a break may help.

Form: 155336-

Ryalex^h³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 98

6/5

Only has one ear, hence the use of a hood, but genuine enough despite retaining maiden status under Rules. Ran well over fences at Perth in May, and probably needed the run over hurdles last month. Should go well from fair mark.

Form: 43F3/2-7

Instingtive²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 86| C| D

8/1

Completed a heavy ground double when winning over 2m1f over hurdles here in March, but has struggled for form since, and took only a small step forward returned to fences at Perth last month.

Form: 54-8703

Forecasts

Ryalex (6/5), Middlebrow (3/1), Sleep In First (7/1), Halcyon Days (15/2), Instingtive (8/1), Roxyfet (33/1)

None of these are rock solid, but RYALEX has fewer questions to answer than most, and will strip fitter for a comeback run over hurdles last month. He's preferred to Middlebrow, who undoubtedly has the class to win, but is often let down by his jumping and/or finishing effort. Roxyfet is best of the rest.