Unibet Horserace Betting Operator Of The Year Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 18.3s

Moonlighter²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: H Cobden| T: Nick Williams| OR: 141| CD

6/1

Benefited from an attacking ride when successful over this C&D last February. However, not quite scaled those same heights since, finishing tamely into fifth at Cheltenham 4 weeks ago.

Form: F51P-P5

Paddy's Poem²⁹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 136| D

25/1

Tremendously consistent and gained reward for a couple of good placed efforts when scoring at Wincanton last March. Run a fortnight later at Cheltenham easily excused and may need this on return.

Form: 12/2310-

Bun Doran^p,t²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 134| D

12/1

Grade 2 winner 2 years ago. Largely struggled after but on the back of a wind op proved he retains ability when third on return at Cheltenham. Similar form a month later but others make more appeal.

Form: 5P0-434

Monsieur Lecoq^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Chester Williams⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 132| CD

8/1

Smart over timber a couple of seasons back and went close off this mark in 16.8f Ascot handicap chase in October. Not so good on both starts since, the first one to struggle at Lingfield 19 days ago.

Form: 2-20267

Numitor⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: H Main| OR: 132| BF| D

9/4

Improved for the switch to chasing last winter, making all in pair of 2m novice handicaps. Resumed progress when scoring at Wetherby on return, typically jumping well, and matched the form at Newbury.

Form: 113-312

Up The Straight²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R Rowe| OR: 132

9/2

Useful hurdler/chaser who made most of a good opportunity to land 3-runner novice chase at Plumpton. Never a threat in Paddy Power Gold Cup and Grade 2 on next 2 starts but this more realistic level.

Form: 525-103

Gunsight Ridge^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 130| BF

11/4

Didn't do much wrong over hurdles last term and this point winner improved from his chase debut when runner-up at Exeter last month, unlucky to bump into a progressive rival. Heading the right way.

Form: 1232-32

Forecasts

Numitor (9/4), Gunsight Ridge (11/4), Up The Straight (9/2), Moonlighter (6/1), Monsieur Lecoq (8/1), Bun Doran (12/1), Paddy's Poem (25/1)

The vote goes to NUMITOR, who has taken his form up a notch in recent starts and Heather Main's charge is likely to take some stopping if given an easy time of things on the front end. He can notch a fourth win from just 7 starts over fences here. Gunsight Ridge bumped into a subsequent Grade 2 winner at Exeter last month so he rates as an obvious danger, ahead of Up The Straight.