Randox Health Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 3m 57.6s

Vosne Romanee^p,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 149| BF| D

10/1

Hold-up performer landed a July double on his favoured good ground at Stratford in July before finishing second at Kelso most recently. Handicap continues to rise and faces tougher opposition here.

Form: 583-112

Bigmartre¹⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| OR: 148| D

4/1

Good novice campaign culminated in Ayr Grade Two success but possibly somewhat flattered given only two finished and they were the outsiders of the five. Open to improvement however and narrowly touched off in first handicap previously.

Form: 0/11271-

Modus¹⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: B J Geraghty| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 146| C| D

4/1

Won three times last season including a Grade Two at Wincanton although all three were in small fields. Jumping didn't hold up at Cheltenham or Aintree next but won first time out four times before and gets his favoured ground here.

Form: 11F185-

Duke Of Navan¹⁸⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 144| D

20/1

Beat Bigmartre by a short head at Doncaster in July (received 8lb) but only ran once more when third in an Ayr handicap back in April. Handicap mark here isn't beyond him but Bigmartre should reverse at the weights.

Form: 2/3F213-

Foxtail Hill¹⁸⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 138| CD

3/1

Won first time out last season when winning this in front-running fashion where he jumped fantastically. Unplaced in five subsequent starts but always seems to go best fresh and big player again now 2lb lower than last year.

Form: 186800-

Tommy Silver^p1,t¹⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 136| D

4/1

Lone chase win in an ordinary contest at Leicester on good to firm ground. Soundly beaten in first two handicaps to end last season so more needed here in the first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 232P3-0

Lillington^p,t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 122| D

6/1

Got his act together belatedly when winning at Newton Abbot in June and readily followed up latest at Stratford. Handicapper raises him 10lb which is in effect 11 from out of the handicap and this altogether tougher.

Form: 63U2-11

Forecasts

Foxtail Hill (3/1), Modus (4/1), Tommy Silver (4/1), Bigmartre (4/1), Lillington (6/1), Vosne Romanee (10/1), Duke Of Navan (20/1)

Few horses put up bolder jumping performances last season than FOXTAIL HILL en-route to winning this very race. It was a little disappointing that he couldn't build on that but he often saves his best performances for first time out and from 2lb lower than 2017 he is fancied to follow up. Modus also has a good record first time out and his sometimes sketchy jumping suits such small fields so he is most feared. Bigmartre won a Grade Two to end a good novice campaign and is respected here also.