bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 6m 31.55s

Definitly Red¹⁸⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR: 160| CD

5/1

Won this race on return last year before winning the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree. Disapppointed subsequently and not always fluent in the jumping department; faces a tougher task this year.

Form: U/112B-5

Aso²³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 168

7/1

Won on seasonal reappearance last year and proved he could mix it at the top level when runner-up to Frodon in the Ryanair at the Festival. Interesting runner if he handles this longer trip.

Form: 45/1162-

Elegant Escape²¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 160| D

6/1

Welsh Grand National winner last season and only narrowly denied on Cheltenham Trials Day. However, not in the same form in two subsequent starts and best suited to an extreme stamina test.

Form: 121266-

Ballyoptic^t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 157| CD

11/4

C&D winner and the only one with the benefit of a prep run (wide margin win in Chepstow handicap last time). Largely disappointed last season but had look potentially smart when only narrowly denied in the Scottish National; trip on the sharp side.

Form: 2/F6PF-1

Top Ville Ben^h²¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: P A Kirby| OR: 151| CD

17/2

Two of his three chase wins have come over this C&D, both wide margin victories. Ran okay in the Mildmay Novices' Chase when last seen and not ruled out if ready for this on return here.

Form: 115F13-

La Bague Au Roi²¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 151| BF| C| D

5/2

Mightily consistent mare who has proved as effective over fences and she was hurdles. Won four of her five starts over fences last season and while a career best may be needed for this, she can't be ruled out in receipt of weight from most.

Form: 7/11112-

Molly The Dolly²⁰³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 148| D

16/1

A winner of three of her four starts over fences, all at this sort of trip. Entirely unexposed and gets weight from all but this is a big step up in class.

Form: 22/1131-

Forecasts

La Bague Au Roi (5/2), Ballyoptic (11/4), Definitly Red (5/1), Elegant Escape (6/1), Aso (7/1), Top Ville Ben (17/2), Molly The Dolly (16/1)

Definitely Red won this race well last year but he has a bit to prove on his return having struggled at the back end of the season. ASO took his form to a new level when a game runner-up at the Chelteham Festival when last seen and he gets the tentative vote here in the hope that he's fully fit first time out. Ballyoptic has the benefit of a prep run and isn't dismissed lightly while Top Ville Ben could make his presence felt at this level with course and distance form in the book. La Bague Au Roi's record fresh is impressive and she has to be considered the main danger.