C31 Limited Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:02 | Winning time: 7m 38.1s

Very First Time^b²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 120

12/1

Three-time staying chase winner who offered little in 3 starts after an eye-catching third in Perth handicap back in September. Back to his last winning mark/down in grade but needs to bounce back.

Form: 15/3P8P-

Bafana Blue^t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Ross Chapman| T: M A Barnes| OR: 118

5/1

Left tame Newcastle effort behind when notching eighth chase success at Wetherby last month. Gave it a good shot when third over 30.6f at Perth (good) next time and placed again at Ayr since.

Form: 95613-2

Lord Getaway^p⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: H J Evans| OR: 110

16/5

Ran his best race for a good while when returning from eight months off to finish second at Uttoxeter 49 days ago. On the same mark so could have a say if in similar form.

Form: 2P39/72-

Sigurd^b,t⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 109| BF| C

15/2

Back to form with a bang when landing pair of wide-margin wins at Catterick around the turn of the year and proved better than ever when scoring at Wetherby in March. Not the most reliable, however.

Form: 11PP13-

Well Smitten^p⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 108

13/2

Failed to get his head in front last season and was unable to land a blow (left poorly placed) when finishing sixth at Worcester 8 days ago. 2 lb below last winning mark but needs to show more.

Form: 42635-6

Hedgeinator^p¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: T J O'Brien| T: R Stephens| OR: 97

17/2

Has dropped a long way in the weights and some signs last month that he could take advantage. Well beaten by Danilo d'Airy at Warwick 12 days ago though.

Form: P4723-8

Minella Voucher^p,t¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-1| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 95| C

11/4

Three-time winner over fences and building up a solid record at this level, pulling clear of the remainder when second at Ffos Las (23.8f, good to soft) 10 days ago. Sure to go well again.

Form: U3322-2

Forecasts

Minella Voucher (11/4), Lord Getaway (16/5), Bafana Blue (5/1), Well Smitten (13/2), Sigurd (15/2), Hedgeinator (17/2), Very First Time (12/1)

Hard to split these but a chance is taken on bottom-weight MINELLA VOUCHER getting his head back in front having been placed on his last 5 outings. He pulled clear of the rest at Ffos Las 10 days ago and a reproduction of that effort may suffice. The main danger could be Well Smitten, who didn't really get a chance to show what he could do at Worcester last week, ahead of Bafana Blue.