32Red Casino Chase (Listed)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 5m 1.6s

Charbel^p³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 162| D

7/4

Finally gained breakthrough success in Grade Two Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon latest over 2m4f where he was highly impressive winning by 8L. Step up from 2m seems to have unlocked further progress and good chance to follow up here.

Form: 4F-3121

Top Notch²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 162| D

6/4

Diminutive chaser but winner of a Grade One and three Grade Twos over fences. Good third over hurdles in Grade One Long Walk on seasonal reappearance last month but better still over fences and very high class over this sort of trip.

Form: 31141-3

Black Corton^t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 155| C| D

9/2

Incredible novice season saw him win eight times including an Ascot Grade Two (3m). Second in Charlie Hall on reappearance before pulling up in Ladbrokes Trophy latest in quieter 18/19 campaign. Drop in trip here the biggest question mark.

Form: 1154-2P

Hammersly Lake³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 157| D

25/1

Fast ground lover, a six-time winner over fences but no match for Charbel at Huntingdon latest (fifth beaten 21L). 6lb better off with that rival and possibly quicker surface but reversal very unlikely.

Form: 312165

Speredek^b1¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: N J Hawke| OR: 154

8/1

Highly progressive chaser won twice last season before coming up slightly short in top grade contests. Sound return in a handicap with before no match for Altior here (fourth of five). Blinkers tried now but bit to find with top two.

Form: 12P8-24

Forecasts

Top Notch (6/4), Charbel (7/4), Black Corton (9/2), Speredek (8/1), Hammersly Lake (25/1)

Although Waiting Patiently's withdrawal due to the ground is a little disappointing this race still packs plenty of intrigue and the fact that TOP NOTCH and Charbel are rated exactly the same at present speaks volumes about how closely matched they are. TOP NOTCH gets the vote given his impeccable record over fences (seven from 11) with three of his four defeats coming at Grade One level. Charbel has often been the bridesmaid in his career but took his chance latest to win at Exeter and he did so in convincing fashion. Black Corton is taken to be best of the rest but is better suited by 3m.