BoscaBet Betting Shops Go Digital Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 6m 33.30s

Rhaegar⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: R Johnson| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 122| D

3/1

Bred to be a chaser and came back from wind surgery to score first time up in this discipline bettering his hurdles form. His subsequent effort off a 5lb higher mark over a similar trip was disappointing; could well bounce back in this.

Form: 1439-15

Louse Talk³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 122| DWS

10/1

Point-to-point winner who went 2-2 over hurdles when switched to race under Rules although an Aintree Grade 1 proved too tough a task after those wins. Ran poorly on his first start over fences (2m7f, heavy) but has had some wind surgery since.

Form: 111P-0P

Voie Dans Voie^v⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 120

3/1

Maiden over hurdles who ought to be able to make his mark over fences but has regressed from his chasing debut in two subsequent starts. Fell last time out at Warwick and may need a confidence boost before he's a backable proposition.

Form: 236-54F

Holdbacktheriver³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 120

17/2

Got clobbered by the handicapper for winning an Exeter handicap hurdle last April (raised 12lb for a small-margin victory). Showed that he had an aptitude for chasing on his debut (not knocked around); more to come from him this time around.

Form: 5261-55

Gettysburg Address^b²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 119

11/1

Dual novice hurdle winner in 2017 (made all on both occasions) showing some fairly useful form. Returned over fences after a 16 month absence but disappointed folding up fairly quickly and that run leaves him with something to prove.

Form: 33211-4

Steps And Stairs³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: J McGrath| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 119| D

5/2

From a yard in good form (double at Chepstow yesterday) he's yet to finish out of the first three for this yard (13123). Has looked quirky in the past but appears on an even keel now and capable of better given his recent performances.

Form: 2/131-23

Irish Octave^p⁶⁰

10/1

Progressed well in the past two seasons winning five times over fences his last win coming over C&D; found plenty for pressure after being hampered. Hasn't quite hit the same form since but hard to leave out of calculations around here.

Form: 6-2114F

Forecasts

Steps And Stairs (5/2), Voie Dans Voie (3/1), Rhaegar (3/1), Holdbacktheriver (17/2), Irish Octave (10/1), Louse Talk (10/1), Gettysburg Address (11/1)

With the Henry Oliver stable in good form (double at Chepstow on Monday) the consistent STEPS AND STAIRS is taken to add to his two wins he’s already gained for the yard around a course that appears to suit him well. A few of these need to bounce back from disappointing runs last time out including Voie Dans Voie and Rhaegar both of whom have shown promise initially over fences. Irish Octave has been dropped a couple of pounds since his last run but he’s another one who runs this course well and if he can get going a little earlier than usual he would be a threat. Holdbacktheriver may still be on a stiff mark but was given a considerate introduction to chasing and there may be more to come.