David Hall Has Finally Retired Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 46.93s

The Drone¹¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 116

9/4

Has proven quite useful over hurdles, winning three of his eight starts and ran respectably on only chase start to date; ideally might want a bit further but this is a winnable contest and he is unexposed, so cannot be ruled out.

Form: 3531-15

Twasn't The Plan^h,t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 116

9/2

Can't be faulted for his consistency, in the frame all eight starts to date but yet to win; possibly unlucky not to put that stat right when denied by a short-head at Warwick in September and a repeat of that puts him right in the firing line.

Form: 342322

Virnon²⁸⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 113

10/1

Sprang a 28-1 surprise when successful at Southwell last December but it was no fluke; trip and ground here probably fine but not seen out since January and has no great record fresh. On that, may be best to wait for another day with him.

Form: F4/012P-

Double Court³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 112

3/1

Has been making hay throughout the summer, winning three times and second on the other two occasions; possible handicapper is catching up with him and this trip probably as far as he wants to go, but cannot be dismissed in such good heart.

Form: 0-21112

Between The Waters^p,t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 110| BF

7/1

Turned in a better effort at Stratford on his latest start, only giving best from the last and battling on well once headed; upped a couple of pounds for that but trip/ground fine and a repeat of that gives him every chance.

Form: 312552

Thomas Todd^h²⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: R D Day| T: Laura Morgan| OR: 107

9/2

Ran well in a handicap over C&D last December, a run which would give him every chance here, and last run easily forgiven on ground too soft for him; not seen out since February but if fit after absence, not without hope here.

Form: 56123P-

Forecasts

The Drone (9/4), Double Court (3/1), Thomas Todd (9/2), Twasn't The Plan (9/2), Between The Waters (7/1), Virnon (10/1)

Not easy to solve. Double Court has been making the most of what looked a lenient handicap mark but his fun might be over for the time being, and preference is for THE DRONE, who might prefer another couple of furlongs but is unexposed over fences and should have more to come, and if he can jump a bit better than he did on his only chase start here in January, could be the one to beat. Twasn't The Plan is doing little wrong and should be there at the business end, and neither Between The Waters nor Thomas Todd are easily ruled out.