Byrne Group Handicap Chase (Listed)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 4m 6.5s

Vosne Romanee^t,v1⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 149| D

13/2

Hold-up performer landed a July double on his favoured good ground at Stratford in July before finishing second at Kelso. Never involved latest in a hotter contest at Cheltenham and pulled up three out. Handicap probably high enough.

Form: 83-112P

Shantou Rock^t²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 148

8/11

Second in Grade Two novice chases at Kempton and Doncaster before finishing third in an Aintree Grade One. Likes to front-run where his bold jumping can be seen to good effect and could easily jump these into submission.

Form: F/12223-

Champagne At Tara¹²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 144| D

9/2

Comfortable winner at Aintree and subsequently Uttoxeter this summer. Raised 9lb for the most recent but 8lb rise for the first did little to slow him so worth consideration here with confidence now at a high.

Form: UF2-311

Rock On Rocky^p,t¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 135| D

25/1

Five chase wins all come with cut in the ground including win on heavy ground so conditions here a question mark. Pulled up to end last season and tailed-off last first time out this so hard to be confident.

Form: 4411P-8

Ink Master^t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 130| D

11/2

Six-time chase winner including twice this summer followed two seconds with a fall most recently when that position was again most likely. Handicap looks high enough now for this tougher contest.

Form: 11122F

Non-Runners

Garde La Victoire²⁰

Weight: 11-10| Age: 9

T: P Hobbs & J White J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Shantou Rock (8/11), Garde La Victoire (11/4), Champagne At Tara (9/2), Ink Master (11/2), Vosne Romanee (13/2), Rock On Rocky (25/1)

SHANTOU ROCK developed into a smart novice chaser last season when set some really stiff tasks and Dan Skelton's charge is an excellent jumper which can see him make every yard of the running here. Garde La Victoire may not be quite as good as he once was but he remains a classy chaser nevertheless and he is rated the main danger. Champagne At Tara comes here seeking a hat-trick after two easy wins so he too is worth considering.