BoyleSports Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 5m 26.1s

Valdez⁵³

Age: 13| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 147

6/1

Admirable veteran returned to winning ways with victory in a 2m5f handicap chase at Hereford (soft) in November. Given a break since and is one for the shortlist despite a 5lb rise in the weights.

Form: P432-81

Gala Ball³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 146| C| D

4/1

Defeated Valdez by 1L in a 2m4f handicap chase at Newbury (good-to-soft) in March. Well beaten last of 12 over the same C&D on seasonal debut at the end of November and represents a stable with a 22% strike-rate (7/32) in recent weeks.

Form: 122/21-0

As De Mee²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143| D

6/4

Missed last season and best effort in two starts this campaign came when finishing 19L sixth in a 3m2f handicap chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree (soft) last month. Interesting runner dropping in distance.

Form: 14U0/76

Le Rocher³³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: David Noonan| T: Nick Williams| OR: 140| D

4/1

Ran well when finishing 6L second in a Listed hurdle over an extended 2m4f at Pau (heavy) in February last year. Unraced since and is worth a check in the market returning to fences on seasonal reappearance.

Form: B/35242-

Pingshou⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 140

6/1

Decent effort though held in fourth when falling two out in a 2m3f novices' handicap chase at Ascot (good-to-soft) in early November. Interesting to see how he fares in this contest.

Form: 50-122F

Forecasts

As De Mee (6/4), Gala Ball (4/1), Le Rocher (4/1), Valdez (6/1), Pingshou (6/1)

VALDEZ, the oldest horse in the field can defy top weight to follow up his Hereford success last time out with victory in this small field handicap chase. Pingshou ran a decent race despite falling last time out and he can chase the selection home ahead of Gala Ball who is likely to have improved for his seasonal debut and represents a yard going well at present.