Start Your RacingTV Free Trial Now Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:48 | Winning time: 5m 56.1s

The Road Home^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 102

6/1

Maiden over fences under rules (0-9) and largely disappointing so far this season; 1lb lower than when finishing 5L second to Mrs Vonn over C&D (good to soft) in April 2019; needs to bounce back to form.

Form: 232-PU9

Road Warrior^p,t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: K Yeoman⁽⁷⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 102

12/1

In front when unseating his rider at the second last at Newcastle (2m7½f, heavy) in November, but generally unconvincing from an overall form perspective (0-13; 0-4 for his current trainer); opposed.

Form: 0P0U6P

Skyhill^h,t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 98| C

15/8

Versatile (fences or hurdles); was completing the hat-trick when a ready 9½L winner at Ayr (3m, soft); it would take a very brave form analyst to state that the drop in trip (& 12lb weights rise) will bring an end to his productive spell.

Form: 523111

Thomas Do^t³²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 91

16/1

Cost £70,000 in May 2016 (Belclare point winner); has shown only glimmers of ability for Donald McCain; off the track for 326 days since making his rules chasing debut at Carlisle (2m5f, heavy).

Form: 1872/07-

Eagle Ridge²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 89

17/2

Close third to stablemate Benny's Secret on chasing debut at Musselburgh (2m4½f, good to soft), but unfortunately for connections hasn't kicked on positively since; 0-14 career.

Form: 870-344

Kitty Fisher⁷³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 83

9/1

Her form figures over fences at Hexham (2m-2m4f) during the spring of 2019 read 312; finished third to the progressive Sheneededtherun (won twice since) at Newcastle (2m7½f, heavy) in November; is considered to be the main danger to Skyhill.

Form: 4-33123

Westend Theatre¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 78

5/2

Broke the maiden at the 19th time of asking (11th start over fences) when winning at Hexham (3m, heavy) in December; weakened quickly (beaten 23L) after racing prominently here (2m7½f) a fortnight ago.

Form: 050-314

Forecasts

Skyhill (15/8), Westend Theatre (5/2), The Road Home (6/1), Eagle Ridge (17/2), Kitty Fisher (9/1), Road Warrior (12/1), Thomas Do (16/1)

Kitty Fisher bumped into the thriving Sheneededtherun on return from a five-month absence at Newcastle in November, while Lucinda Russell's The Road Home needs to leave her more recent form behind in order to play a significant role. However, there's been no stopping the versatile SKYHILL in recent weeks and months. Having readily completed the hat-trick in testing conditions at Ayr (3m) it would take a brave form analyst to state that the winning run is about to come to an abrupt end. Despite a 12lb weights rise he's still rated sub-100, so Alison Hamilton's fast-improving seven-year-old is strongly fancied to make it 3-4 over fences.