Farmer Steve's Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:21 | Winning time: 5m 25.9s

Indian Temple^p²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: T Reed| OR: 141| D

10/3

Winner of a competitive handicap at Perth last time out and respected from a 4lb higher mark; on a career high but seems to have relished a test of his stamina lately. Interesting contender despite carrying top weight.

Form: 352F-21

The Paparrazi Kid^t⁴³⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: J Coulson| OR: 137

80/1

Lightly raced over the last couple of years and plenty to prove on his first start since last April. Best form in Ireland was also posted with plenty of give underfoot.

Form: U1P5F0/

Value At Risk⁵¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 131| BF| C| DWS

5/4

On a good mark and probably better than when finishing third at Aintree in May (worth noting he was 5l adrift of Indian Temple but ran out of time with his effort). This longer trip can help. Must be taken seriously. (Had a wind op since last seen.)

Form: 1963-53

Wolfcatcher^p,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 126| C| D

4/1

Won as expected in a three horse race at Mussleburgh last December but been well held despite good finishing positions since. Handicapper has been slow to relent. Another stiff test ahead here.

Form: 5614-32

Majestic Moll^t1¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 126

10/1

Enigmatic and knows how to turn on the style when things go her way. Off-putting that she can run a stinker when they don't; has plenty to find with Wolfcatcher on the form of their encounter at Southwell last month. Too unreliable to merit a punt.

Form: 41P1P-P

Lord Bryan^t³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 124| D

9/2

Best when able to dominate and unlikely to benefit from an uncontested lead here; can throw in the towel and not one to trust implicitly despite having shown he's effective at this course.

Form: 3371-P5

Forecasts

Value At Risk (5/4), Indian Temple (10/3), Wolfcatcher (4/1), Lord Bryan (9/2), Majestic Moll (10/1), The Paparrazi Kid (80/1)

The in-form INDIAN TEMPLE needs to be at his best to fend off the attentions of Value AT Risk as he's 6lb worse off at the weights and runs over a longer trip than the last time they met. However, his old rival has been under the knife for wind surgery since they met at Aintree and, in the absence of a reliable betting guide, the top weight gets the nod to uphold the placings on the bare form in the book. (The betting market will be informative, however, and Value At Risk should be monitored closely.) Wolfcatcher was too good for Majestic Moll and can again finish ahead of that rival to be the best of the rest this time.