smarkets.com Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 7m 11.2s

Samstown²³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: A C Whillans| OR: 124

20/1

Former Peter Marsh Chase winner (2015, heavy) when 11lb higher. Had three years off before being below par in the spring. Best watched at present.

Form: 1P6P/P7-

Chef D'Oeuvre²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 120

11/4

Looks on a handy mark based on his best chase efforts for Warren Greatrex, for whom he also ran well from this mark over hurdles on his final run. Respectable reappearance last month. Softer ground positive. Interesting.

Form: 3/0P62-4

Lough Derg Farmer²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 117

11/4

Dual novices' hurdle winner over middle distances for Nicky Henderson a couple of years back, but lost his way last season. Better effort again last time and he has claims from the same mark today.

Form: 47-0532

Kilcullen Flem^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 116| BF

3/1

Stays well and on testing ground. 1lb higher than when scoring over 4m at Hexham in March. Below that level since. Can't rule him out from this mark, but has a bit to prove after disappointing on his reappearance.

Form: 1P134-P

Kilbree Chief^p¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 113

14/1

Seems to save his best for Ayr and has been out of sorts in two runs this season. On a handy mark if he can revive, but clearly carries risks at present.

Form: 6319/P9

Nakadam^p,t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 107| D

10/1

Has not won since April 2016, but remains 6lb higher after some decent efforts in defeat since. Not ruled out of the frame, but doesn't make great appeal for the win.

Form: 4/223-46

Lowanbehold³²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 106| D

9/1

Acts on any ground and stays well. 6lb higher than a 3m2f Kelso win (heavy) in April. Has run well on both starts since and enters calculations after a 2lb drop.

Form: 44316-3

Forecasts

Lough Derg Farmer (11/4), Chef D'Oeuvre (11/4), Kilcullen Flem (3/1), Lowanbehold (9/1), Nakadam (10/1), Kilbree Chief (14/1), Samstown (20/1)

You can pick holes in the form of the entire field here, but the race is probably more intriguing for that. Kilbree Chief is on a handy mark if he can get back to something like his best, while Nakadam should go well but is not easy to win with. Kilcullen Farm has the ability but also a bit to prove and the three to concentrate on look to be Chef D'Oeuvre, Lowanbehold and LOUGH DERG FARMER. The last-named gets the vote after appearing to get back on track last time.