Heineken UK Handicap Chase

Off time: 19:25 | Winning time: 5m 54.5s

El Terremoto^p,t¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 131

11/4

Fourth in a valuable Market Rasen handicap on latest start and might have gone close here last September but for a fall late on. However, not proven over this trip and not really progressing over fences, so a little to prove now.

Form: FF280-4

Bells Of Ailsworth^t⁴⁷²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 127| D

7/1

Not seen out for well over a year, but was a useful chaser back in 2018 and the handicapper has given him a helping hand if he's fit after his absence. Drop of rain would help his cause too, and yard still in cracking form.

Form: 3F313P/

Powerful Symbol^p,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: B Pauling| OR: 121| D

4/1

Not the easiest to win with but stays well, and ground may be ideal. Not a bad effort after a break at Worcester last time and likely to come on a bit for that. Likely to try and make all, and may well succeed.

Form: 351FP-3

Old Salt^p,t¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 112

3/1

Continued his upward trajectory with another ready win at Cartmel on latest start, and comes here on the top of his game. 7lb rise and up in trip tonight both ask a new question of him, but if staying, looks the one to beat.

Form: 5P11-41

Buck Dancing^t³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: R Menzies| OR: 108| D

5/2

Twice a point-to-point winner this spring, and ran well in defeat at Stratford on their hunter chase evening at the end of May too. Won again over hurdles on latest start and still looks reasonably treated here. Will stay and has to be considered.

Form: 2-71121

Forecasts

Buck Dancing (5/2), El Terremoto (11/4), Old Salt (3/1), Powerful Symbol (4/1), Bells Of Ailsworth (7/1)

Old Salt was a ready winner at Cartmel and looks the one to beat, but there's a small question mark over whether his stamina will hold out and he might find himself reaching for the oxygen late on. Bells Of Ailsworth would be interesting if ready to go after a long absence, and the advice is to watch the market. Buck Dancing will find this harder but comes here on the top of his game and looks a player, but POWERFUL SYMBOL is likely to get his own way on the front and might keep going a bit longer than he did at Worcester on his comeback run. He's taken to make all.