Buy New Timeform Horses To Follow Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 6m 12.55s

Pain Au Chocolat^p,t⁸¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Ryan Mania| T: R Menzies| OR: 134WS

11/2

Unbeaten in three starts at Newcastle (2m-2m4½f), latest when scoring there last April from 1lb higher. Beaten when falling late at Wetherby on Boxing Day and has undergone wind op since.

Form: 391-F3P

Pougne Bobbi⁷³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 133

4/1

Lightly-race nine-year-old was a winner over 2m4f at Huntingdon last January and ran well in the Plate subsequently at Cheltenham Festival (seventh). Rated 7lb lower here on first run since and one to note starting for new trainer Keith Dalgleish.

Form: 574517/

Cultram Abbey⁹⁹

Age: 13| Weight: 11-7| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 131| CD

7/1

Dual course winner over fences, well held in a C&D veterans' contest in December however and teenager needs a bit more having eased 2lb in the ratings since.

Form: 1PP1-35

Ascot De Bruyere^b¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 127| CD

4/1

Form this season has been way below his best and he gave sign of going the wrong way temperamentally to boot; finds an easier task on paper here having been brought down in Doncaster's Grimthorpe Handicap Chase last time out.

Form: 12-364B

Crixus's Escape²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: G Boanas| OR: 124

13/8

Three wins in eight over hurdles and appeared to have learned from chasing bow when runner-up in five-runner novices' chase at Catterick (2m3f, heavy; 9-1) last month. Never threatened the winner but less challenging ask here.

Form: 31-4552

Forecasts

Crixus's Escape (13/8), Pougne Bobbi (4/1), Ascot De Bruyere (4/1), Pain Au Chocolat (11/2), Cultram Abbey (7/1)

This is a good chance for CRIXUS'S ESCAPE after being no match for the winner last time at Catterick, that was still an improvement and he can get on the board. Ascot De Bruyere is a former C&D winner and, similarly, gets a more appealing mission today. Any money for the returning Pougne Bobbi on debut for Keith Dalgleish would be interesting, having been last spotted running well from a higher mark at last year's Cheltenham Festival.