William Hill Plus Bet Club Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:27 | Winning time: 5m 9.17s

Cage Of Fear^p⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 115

28/1

Confirmed promise of his chase debut effort when successful at Perth (23.8f) in September. Not kicked on subsequently but return to chasing a likely plus and yard switch may have perked him up.

Form: 21862-5

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Methodtothemadness^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 114

6/1

Fair chaser who confirmed promise of his C&D third in May when forging clear to land 6-runner Hexham handicap (20f) in June. Handicapper has reacted but possibilities once more.

Form: 686-U31

Demi Sang^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 114| CD

9/4

Dual course winner back in 2019 but winless over both sets of obstacles since, keeping on gradually for fourth over hurdles at Hexham (20f) in June. Cheekpieces again fitted back over fences.

Form: 5553-44

Brotherly Company^p³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: A M Thomson| OR: 111

5/1

Consistent sort who wasted no time getting back to form when running out a 9-length winner at Southwell (24.2f) last month. Sound claims again on that from 7 lb higher mark.

Form: 2115-P1

Wolfcatcher^p,t⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 110| D

17/2

Has fallen plenty in the weights and dropped a big hint his turn isn't far away when runner-up over 20f at Perth in June. Another to consider eased in class.

Form: 66356-2

Wishfull Dreaming^t,v1²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 108

13/2

Winless since 2019 but this veteran is another who has fallen in weights and he didn't go without promise when fourth in a 9-runner handicap here (25.5f) in June. Eased back in trip a likely plus.

Form: 475-944

Authorizo^p,t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 106

10/3

In resurgent form in recent months, successful over hurdles in May and building on chase debut effort to score at Stratford (19.5f) last time, keeping on well. 4 lb higher now but respected.

Form: 07-2151

Forecasts

Demi Sang (9/4), Authorizo (10/3), Brotherly Company (5/1), Methodtothemadness (6/1), Wishfull Dreaming (13/2), Wolfcatcher (17/2), Cage Of Fear (28/1)

A competitive, small-field handicap with a host arriving with claims and it may pay to side with WOLFCATCHER. His losing run is mounting but he dropped a big hint his turn may not be far away when runner-up at Perth in June and a repeat from the same mark leaves him with sound claims. Authorizo and Methodtothemadness head up the dangers, along with Brotherly Company.