Kingmaker Racedays Celebrates Mary Harle's 100th Birthday Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 4m 54.3s

Schiehallion Munro^h¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 131| CD

3/1

Jumped like a pro when winning over C&D on chase bow in November; second to useful sort at Doncaster next time and winner over 2m at Newcastle earlier this month despite slow pace. Type to go well back around here over this trip.

Form: 213-121

The Some Dance Kid⁶¹

12/1

Progressive last year over hurdles, winning three of four starts including here; not as good so far in two chase starts however and plenty to find with Schiehallion Munro on November's C&D meeting.

Form: 3111-55

Return Ticket⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 129| C

4/1

Ran into Sam Spinner when third on chasing bow at Wetherby in October and then outclass in Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown (2m, soft; 33-1) next time out. This looks a more realistic target and return to this trip a positive.

Form: 1612-35

Before Midnight⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128| D

10/3

Led at second last on chase bow in Leicester Novices' Handicap last month over 2m6½f before fading to finish sixth of seven (beaten 5½L). Drops in distance and seemingly preferred by bang in-form Nice De Boinville over stablemate Dream Du Grand Val.

Form: U2102-6

Crixus's Escape²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Quinlan| T: G Boanas| OR: 126

11/2

Three-time winner over hurdles, makes first start over the larger obstacles and will need to take to this sphere quickly to make impact today.

Form: 7431-45

Diamond Fort²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 124| D

4/1

Winner of a couple of hurdles races at modest level, improved on second start over fences to be third of six at Uttoxeter (2m4f, heavy; 6-1) on New Year's Eve and probably needs to take another step forward now.

Form: 4255-F3

Non-Runners

Dream Du Grand Val¹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 7

T: N J Henderson J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Schiehallion Munro (3/1), Before Midnight (10/3), Return Ticket (4/1), Diamond Fort (4/1), Dream Du Grand Val (9/2), Crixus's Escape (11/2), The Some Dance Kid (12/1)

He's 2-3 over fences and SCHIEHALLION MUNRO may defy his opening handicap mark now. He defied a penalty at Newcastle recent despite a slow pace over 2m and will be well suited back up in trip, while his only defeat over fences thus far was a runner-up finish behind a smart rival. Before Midnight didn't appear to last home at Leicester last time and is feared most of the Nicky Henderson pair, with the Seven Barrows handler boasting an excellent record at this track. Return Ticket could be the big danger however. He's run in two strong races over fences so far and acquitted himself. Eased in grade and up in trip, he can have a big say.