Smith & Williamson Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 6m 28.8s

Asking Questions^t,v²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 112

5/1

Dual chase winner at Carlisle earlier this year under an attacking ride on both occasions. Returned from a break with a sound outing over hurdles (runner-up) before he was probably a little too highly tried last time; this is more suitable.

Form: 6112-28

Guerrilla Tactics⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁷⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 111| CD

13/8

Consistent sort in chases over the summer who gained his reward for that reliability with a hurdles win at Stratford over 3m2f in August. Turned in a rare poor effort when last seen but is a C&D winner; type to bounce back on ground that suits.

Form: 4-23217

All Kings^b1¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: James Best| T: R H Buckler| OR: 106

18/1

A long-standing maiden who is 0-15 in the jumps sphere and despite some creditable effort is one to oppose. Blinkers are now tried in an effort to eke out some improvement but it's hard to see that being enough.

Form: 6P-3245

Mr Satco^p¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 104| C

8/1

Hard to know what to expect from this enigmatic sort who is capable of winning over fences but has never won a handicap (last two wins in hunter chases). Dangerous if left alone up front; run two sound races in a row, needs a third to compete here.

Form: 3P3P24

Clondaw Rigger^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 102| D

9/4

Very likeable sort who has won twice over fences with his best performance coming last time with a 7L Chepstow win. Soft ground appears the key to him so this quicker surface may find him out as he bids to follow up off a 7lb higher mark.

Form: 5226-31

Ruperra Tom^t⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 100

10/1

A three-time winner in point-to-points he proved a disappointment when returning under Rules at Fontwell in October with his jumping looking very laboured and far from fluent. Yet to win under Rules and a watching brief is advised for now.

Form: 1/112P-3

Forecasts

Guerrilla Tactics (13/8), Clondaw Rigger (9/4), Asking Questions (5/1), Mr Satco (8/1), Ruperra Tom (10/1), All Kings (18/1)

With little in the way of contested pace here Mr Satco is likely to get his preferred solo up front although he does have to prove that he can put another good run together. Guerrilla Tactics needs to return to his summer form after disappointing when last seen but with this quick surface in his favour that isn’t ruled out. Clondaw Rigger is at this level a progressive sort who won by 7L last time and looks to have some more evolution in him although he has to prove himself on this quicker surface. ASKING QUESTIONS was asked a stiff one last time at Cheltenham and he was far from disgraced, with Harry Skelton reunited with him and off a mark that doesn’t look harsh.