Danny Megson 40th Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 4m 51.95s

Nightfly^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 125| BF

5/2

Yet to finish outside the first two in five starts over fences and returned with a solid effort when only narrowly denied at Worcester last time. Leading player up in trip if she comes on for that run.

Form: P122-12

Workbench^b,t²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 124| D

12/1

Found some form towards the end of last season when encountering better ground and his comeback run over hurdles can be excused as a prep run. Yard have a fine record around here and he's expected to go close.

Form: 068224

Copper West¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 117| BF

3/1

Still a maiden under Rules but produced shaped with plenty of promise in a couple of starts at Southwell in the summer. Comeback run at Huntingdon was below par but he may have needed that and probably has one in him off this mark.

Form: 335-224

Brave Spartacus³²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: G Boanas| OR: 117| D

14/1

Wide margin winner at Cartmel in 2017 but struggling for form this summer. Produced a better effort at Sedgefield last time and while no match for the winner that day, he's back on a workable handicap mark having been dropped 3lb by the assessor.

Form: 53P5P2

Tayzar¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 115

6/1

Still a maiden under Rules but has shown ability and not disgraced on chase debut last time at Carlisle, despite finishing well beaten after a mistake close to home. Interesting to see what the market makes of him.

Form: 7242-37

Absolutely Dylan¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 110| D

5/2

Won just once over hurdles but made a very promising debut over fences last time when winning at Sedgefield. Less exposed than most and should go well.

Form: 32178-1

Non-Runners

Bordeaux Bill²³²

Weight: 11-13| Age: 7

T: B Ellison J: D A Jacob

Sparkling River²²⁴

Weight: 11-13| Age: 8

T: Henry Oliver J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Nightfly (5/2), Absolutely Dylan (5/2), Copper West (3/1), Bordeaux Bill (11/2), Tayzar (6/1), Sparkling River (10/1), Workbench (12/1), Brave Spartacus (14/1)

ABSOLUTELY DYLAN was impressive on chase debut last time and he rates as the type to progress through the handicap system this year. Workbench may have needed the run last time and is expected to do better here while Nightfly has been ultra consistent and shouldn't be far away.