Read Kevin Blake On attheraces.com Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:17 | Winning time: 4m 20.22s

Light N Strike²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-1| J: J R Wildman⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 116

9/4

Proved consistent rather than progressive over hurdles but type to make a better chaser and credited with some improvement when second at Kempton on handicap bow after wind op. May do better.

Form: 2533-22

Only Money¹⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 113

3/1

Free-going sort who won a Fontwell bumper in early 2019. Left hurdles form/chase debut well behind when easily winning at Huntingdon in May. Could still be ahead of his mark despite 12 lb rise.

Form: 48555-1

Numbers Man^t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 108

15/8

Promise in his qualifying runs. Disappointing on handicap debut in May but much better sent chasing when close second at Ffos Las on return after wind op. May prove capable of better again.

Form: 564-02

Blistering Bob^h²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 94

16/1

Dual Flat winner who didn't get anywhere near that form over hurdles, though was in the process of running best race when unseating at the last at Newton Abbot on return. Chase debut.

Form: 0/755-U

En Coeur^t¹⁵⁹

6/1

Picked up a couple of class 5 novice handicaps over C&D last season but looks a bit too high in the weights to be winning at this level on return. Has had a wind op.

Form: 2141-73

Forecasts

Numbers Man (15/8), Light N Strike (9/4), Only Money (3/1), En Coeur (6/1), Blistering Bob (16/1)

ONLY MONEY showed much improved form to get off the mark over jumps on just his second outing over fences at Huntingdon when last seen in May. That performance is backed up by the timefigure and he could still be ahead of his mark despite a 12 lb rise. Numbers Man made a solid start to his chase career when runner-up at Ffos Las on his return last month and is feared most.