'Melody's' In Tune With Kubota Mini-Excavators Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 6m 29.96s

Nightline¹²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 118| D

15/2

Probably would've won had he not unshipped Paul O'Brien at the final fence at Huntingdon (23.6f) in November. Beaten a long way out at Doncaster the following month, though, and absent since.

Form: 51/P-5U9

Waikiki Waves³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 118

4/1

Notched sixth success in this sphere at Leicester in November. Decent second in a 4-runner Taunton (21.7f, soft) back from a break last month and one to consider with conditions to suit.

Form: P-44162

Polydora^p,t⁸²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 117| C

5/2

Better signs following a wind op when fifth of 14 over a marathon trip in first-time cheekpieces at Market Rasen in December. However, lacklustre at Ayr next time and he's readily passed over here.

Form: 2P-P05P

Danboru^t¹³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Price⁽⁵⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 112| D

11/1

Successful over hurdles and fences in 2019. Entitled to come on for his reappearance spin over hurdles at Southwell in December (first start for 13 months), but others make more appeal all the same.

Form: 22F4P-6

Sackett²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁵⁾| T: N B King| OR: 110| D

11/8

Fairly useful chaser at his best who left a trio of non-completions in his wake to get back to winning ways at Fakenham (3m) last month, albeit in a race that fell apart. Still, claims once more.

Form: P3-PPP1

Non-Runners

Looks Like Power²⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 11

T: Mrs D A Hamer J: Lorcan Williams

Dadsintrouble⁶⁴

Weight: 11-7| Age: 11

T: Tim Vaughan J: Alan Johns

Mine's A Pint¹²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 9

T: Kieran Burke J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Sackett (11/8), Polydora (5/2), Dadsintrouble (3/1), Waikiki Waves (4/1), Nightline (15/2), Mine's A Pint (8/1), Looks Like Power (10/1), Danboru (11/1)

SACKETT capitalised on the handicapper's mercy when scoring at Fakenham last month, and although that race rather fell apart, he should still be competitive at this level off his revised mark. Waikiki Waves is a big danger with conditions to suit.