Centenary Silver Plate Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 6m 9.50s

Wye Aye^h¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 120| D

12/1

Dual chase winner in the spring, but efforts over hurdles the last twice have lacked spark and resumes in this sphere on a tough-looking mark.

Form: 2P11-07

Spider's Bite^t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: K Brogan⁽⁵⁾| T: A Nicol| OR: 117| D

3/1

Winning hurdler who appeared to get back on track over fences when just touched off over this C&D last month. Remains on a workable mark for new yard and should make his presence felt.

Form: 8P/UP-52

Slainte Mhor^p¹⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 111| D

11/1

Opened his chase account with a game display at Ayr during the spring. Latest Kelso effort in May was rather disappointing, but possibilities here if on-song following a break.

Form: 5241U-4

Lex Talionis^p,t¹²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 103

8/1

Unreliable type who ran out a wide-margin winner of Chepstow handicap chase in April. Has typically failed to back that performance up on his next 2 starts, though and cheekpieces now refitted.

Form: 4241-35

Head On^t,v¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 90

8/11

Immediate improvement when making a winning debut in this sphere at Worcester (23f) last month. Duly followed up over the same C&D recently and probably has more to offer as a chaser.

Form: 8-55211

Non-Runners

Dr Des¹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 10

T: P & M Bowen J: James Bowen

Forecasts

Head On (8/11), Spider's Bite (3/1), Lex Talionis (8/1), Slainte Mhor (11/1), Wye Aye (12/1), Dr Des (12/1)

It's hard to look beyond HEAD ON, who made it 2-2 over fences with a fair bit in hand in a conditionals' event at Worcester 10 days ago. He is ahead of the handicapper and there may well be even better to come from this 5-y-o. Spider's Bite took a step back in the right direction and he gets the nod ahead of Slainte Mhor for forecast purposes.