John Burke Memorial Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 52.7s

Perpignan¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-3| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 102

12/1

Triple point-to-point winner but generally disappointing in four starts for this yard. Marginally better over hurdles at Southwell (1m7½f, good) two starts back but struggled from the off on chasing debut at Market Rasen (2m5½f, good) 15 days ago.

Form: 15-7736

Boy In A Bentley^p,t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 97| D

9/2

Not badly handicapped on four second places in late 2018 but hasn't returned from a six-month break in form and now 0/12 over fences. Tailed off at Stratford (2m3½f, good) six weeks ago and difficult to trust on recent efforts.

Form: 2220-47

Caveat Emptor¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: S Bowen| T: D A Rees| OR: 86

11/4

Won a Welsh point-to-point in April over 3m but a mixed bag over hurdles and fences since then. There were positive signs when fourth here (2m½f, good) beaten 11½L on 30 July but tailed off back over hurdles 11 days ago.

Form: 174740

Blackjacktennessee^h²⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Lee Edwards| T: S Flook| OR: 86

20/1

Had his jumping issues in three chase runs last year, most recently at Bangor (2m1½f, soft) back in December. Dropping down the weights but now 0/10 and hard to know what to expect.

Form: 85/34F7-

Invincible Don⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: S Durack| OR: 85

7/2

Ex-Irish veteran having his first run for Seamus Durack. Is 0/24 over fences but beaten just a neck at Killarney (2m5f, good) in July showed some ability remains. Yard have a 35% strike-rate here and is taken seriously in this contest.

Form: 77-0029

Max O^v1¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: R J Armson| OR: 79

15/2

Three-time point winner who is 0/5 under Rules. Put previous efforts behind him when rattling home to finish third after looking beaten at Market Rasen (2m5½f, good) two weeks ago. First-time visor here could help if building on his last run.

Form: P46583

Midnight Gem³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Adrian Heskin| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 79| D

7/2

No signs of a revival in eight runs for this yard until arresting the decline to win at Southwell (2m4½f, good) off a career-low mark 38 days ago. Up 5lb but still well-handicapped on old form if in the same mood.

Form: 7-04981

Forecasts

Caveat Emptor (11/4), Invincible Don (7/2), Midnight Gem (7/2), Boy In A Bentley (9/2), Max O (15/2), Perpignan (12/1), Blackjacktennessee (20/1)

None of these are particularly reliable individuals but INVINCIBLE DON is given the nod after running well at Killarney recently and has joined a yard with a good record at this track. Of the others, Midnight Gem may well have boosted her confidence with a recent Southwell victory whilst Caveat Emperor can make the frame based on his run here two starts back.