Virgin Bet Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 26.08s

Getaway Luv⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 116

11/2

Fair hurdles winner who was strictly below that level when midfield in 11-runner novices' handicap chase at Warwick (2m) last month. Still, he may come on for that now so not discounted.

Form: 312-745

Keep Rolling^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 116| BF| D

3/1

Very much back to form when runner-up in a C&D handicap in December, so rather disappointing he couldn't match that at Exeter (19.2f, heavy) next time. One to consider with bounce back expected.

Form: 424-624

Poldark Cross³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: J M Quinlan| T: H Whittington| OR: 113

2/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler. All the better for chase debut when runner-up at Sedgefield (19.3f) on Boxing Day, beaten only by a course specialist. Possible he can do better again in this sphere.

Form: 1/232-P2

Mystical Clouds²⁷¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Fergus Gregory| T: J Butler| OR: 112| D

40/1

Tricky sort who ended time with Alan King with success at Kempton (20.5f) early 2020. Didn't go on from yard debut effort last term though and break needs to have perked him up.

Form: 1/4656-P

The Composeur⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Alain Cawley| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 111| D

14/1

Readily opened his account over fences at Southwell in June but failed to complete on 3 of his 4 starts since, running no sort of race when pulled up at Carlisle last month.

Form: 41F4FP

Star of Rory^t⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 107| D

11/2

Multiple hurdles winner but yet to seriously threaten in handful of starts over fences, struggling when unseating at Leicester (22.7f) 4 days ago. Needs to step up to figure.

Form: 25-783U

Raecius Felix^p1⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 102

6/1

Been some time since he scored but wasted no time getting back to form when third at Musselburgh last month. Dropped 3 lb for that effort so he merits consideration sporting first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 533333

Forecasts

Poldark Cross (2/1), Keep Rolling (3/1), Star of Rory (11/2), Getaway Luv (11/2), Raecius Felix (6/1), The Composeur (14/1), Mystical Clouds (40/1)

KEEP ROLLING needs to keep the errors at bay but he appeals as being on a workable mark on the pick of his chase exploits, not least his penultimate second in a C&D handicap in December. He gets the narrow vote in what rates an open-looking affair. Poldark Cross is less exposed than most and feared, along with Raecius Felix who takes a drop back in trip.