Hunter Reim Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:33 | Winning time: 4m 25.77s

Defi Sacre^p,t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: James Best| T: R Hobson| OR: 128| BF| D

3/1

Improved model over fences last term, rattling off a hat-trick over 2m at Newbury. Placed both completed starts this season and should make his presence felt.

Form: 111-2U3

Rose Sea Has^p²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Lee Edwards| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 124| D

10/1

Largely struggled since landing a Sedgefield novices' handicap chase last November, and likely to come up short once more.

Form: 447-FP4

Lake Takapuna^p³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 123| CD

9/2

Returned after wind op/7 months off with career-best C&D success in September. Put in another good shift when runner-up at Doncaster last time and should be in the thick of things once again.

Form: 684-182

Monsieur Co^p,t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 118| CD

12/1

Back in the winning groove when striking over C&D in October, but has typically failed to reproduce that level of form in 2 subsequent starts. Risky.

Form: P4P166

Cedar Hill³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 115| BF| CD

9/4

Raised his game when registering back-to-back C&D victories in October/November. Looked a non-stayer upped to 2½m at Newcastle last time and may well get back on track returned to this trip.

Form: 676114

Saint Leo³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 115| D

8/1

Winning hurdler/chaser in France, but 0-9 on these shores. Yard also saddles Well Above Par.

Form: 63/44-P6

Well Above Par^p1⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 112| C

8/1

Successful here last November, but it's been pretty much all downhill since, well held on return/first run following surgery at Ayr in October. Now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: P145P-6

Forecasts

Cedar Hill (9/4), Defi Sacre (3/1), Lake Takapuna (9/2), Well Above Par (8/1), Saint Leo (8/1), Rose Sea Has (10/1), Monsieur Co (12/1)

LAKE TAKAPUNA lost little caste in defeat at Doncaster last month and is taken to make it 2-2 over this C&D, having made a winning reappearance on his sole previous visit here in September. Cedar Hill was thwarted in his hat-trick bid at Newcastle, but is also unbeaten at this course and is feared back down in trip. Defi Sacre needs considering, too.