Watch Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 5m 56.10s

Ascot De Bruyere^b³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 135| CD

5/6

Made all and jumped his rivals silly when an emphatic 18L winner over 2m4f here (good to soft) last month; hit with a subsequent 13lb rise in the weights; now 3-3 at Newcastle (including over C&D); worthy of considerable respect.

Form: P/1-7611

Straidnahanna¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 130| C

15/2

Dour stayer and proven Catterick specialist; adaptable in terms of underfoot conditions and edging slowly back down the weights following a largely unproductive season; no obvious issues with this track; not a horse to ever dismiss lightly.

Form: P-634F4

Special Prep^p,t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 128

15/8

12lb higher than when beating Plantagenet by 12L on quick ground at Doncaster (3m2f) in January; reeled in late on when set to follow up at Catterick latest; both trip and ground appear suitable in an arguably more competitive contest.

Form: 1-38212

Jet Master^h,t²⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 11-1| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 124| C

12/1

Admirable old-stager who certainly knows his way around Gosforth Park (dual winner of the 2m4f November veterans race); returns to chasing following a couple of spins over hurdles - connections cashed in on his lower handicap mark; stamina concerns.

Form: 831213

Non-Runners

Petiville¹⁸

Weight: 10-7| Age: 7

T: R Hobson J: C O'Farrell

Forecasts

Ascot De Bruyere (5/6), Special Prep (15/8), Straidnahanna (15/2), Petiville (10/1), Jet Master (12/1)

The all guns blazing front-running tactics adopted by the James Ewart-trained ASCOT DE BRUYERE have been an absolute joy to witness during an otherwise low-key jumps season at Gosforth Park. He clearly adores this testing Tyneside track (3-3) and simply wowed all present when bounding clear to score by 18L over the shorter trip of 2m4f last month. A subsequent 13lb rise in the weights should at the very least check his momentum, but we know from past experience that he stays 3m perfectly well and in truth rates as very difficult to oppose.