ROA/Racing Post Owners' Jackpot Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:25 | Winning time: 5m 23.30s

Casual Cavalier^p³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Jason Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 105

7/2

Was back to somewhere near his best form of two seasons ago when scoring on his second start for this trainer at Ayr (2m½f, heavy) last month. Up 3lb for that, and back up to a trip that he has yet to win at, but has to be respected.

Form: 3247-41

Alf 'n' Dor⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 103| D

9/1

Best at around this trip on soft ground. Best efforts of last season would entitle him to be very competitive from this mark. Not at that level this season, leaving him with a fair bit to prove, but dangerous if he can bounce back.

Form: 232626

Knocknamona¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 100| BF| CD

5/2

Reeled off four wins in a row last season, the last of which came from just 2lb lower. Has run well on his last two outings (both around 3m) and enters calculations dropped back to this trip.

Form: 146-462

Nobel Leader¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Benjamin Poste| T: H J Evans| OR: 98

14/1

Sole success under rules came at Southwell (1m7½f, good) in March 2017, when 3lb higher. Was entitled to need his reappearance last month, after 20-months off the track. Bit to prove, but can't write him off.

Form: 5P431/8

Bajardo^t²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Bargary| T: Mrs E Bishop| OR: 93

33/1

7lb lower than when scoring at Fakenham (2m½f, soft) a year ago, but form has largely tailed off since, and little sign of revival on his reappearance.

Form: 13B3-88

Loch Garman Aris¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: T Scudamore| T: G Hanmer| OR: 86| C

4/1

Won a bumper here three years ago, but has failed to add to that over obstacles. Nonetheless, his last two runs have been respectable enough and, in a weak race, he has frame claims.

Form: P50-634

Hands Of Stone²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: B S Hughes| T: Evan Williams| OR: 84

7/2

14-race maiden. Reasonable efforts on his last two starts, but looks to have each-way claims at best, unless he can find sudden improvement.

Form: 864-634

Forecasts

Knocknamona (5/2), Casual Cavalier (7/2), Hands Of Stone (7/2), Loch Garman Aris (4/1), Alf 'n' Dor (9/1), Nobel Leader (14/1), Bajardo (33/1)

This doesn't look like a race to get too heavily involved in, but it could be worth taking a chance that ALF 'N' DOR can come back to form from a mark off which he can make an impact. Both trip and ground suit Peter Bowen's gelding, who is not one to write off yet. Casual Cavalier is respected, but there are nagging doubts about him over this far, while conversely, the drop back to this trip could bring Knocknamona right into this. Nobel Leader and Loch Garmin Aris are not ruled out of the frame.