bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 8m 27.12s

Highland Hunter⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 149| C

11/4

Typical steady improver for this yard who took it up another notch when narrow winner of London National at Sandown on return. Good second in Welsh National since and obvious claims off same mark.

Form: F125-12

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Mighty Thunder^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: T Scudamore| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 148| C

5/1

Big improver last term, easy winner of this before bagging fourth win of the campaign in Scottish National. Probably needed Wetherby return but ran no sort of race in Welsh National. Can bounce back.

Form: 6121-4P

Step Back^p⁴⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: Miss L Bradstock⁽⁷⁾| T: M Bradstock| OR: 140

7/1

Back to near best in late 2020, winning twice, and final outing at Cheltenham was a respectable sixth. Needs to leave belated reappearance at Ascot well behind, however.

Form: V/5116-7

Robin Des Foret^t⁸³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr Ben Harvey⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 138

28/1

Useful chaser but is on the downgrade and didn't take to Cross Country last time. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 55803P

The Wolf^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: O Murphy| OR: 137

3/1

Beginners' chase winner at Chepstow last term and good efforts in defeat both starts this season, second of 11 in handicap chase at Cheltenham (26.3f, soft, 10/1) 35 days ago. Can give a good account.

Form: 4302-42

Captain Cattistock^p,t³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 124

3/1

Useful at best for Paul Nicholls and landed big-field hunter at Cheltenham for this yard in April. Shaped much better than bare result at Haydock on return and better ground here will suit.

Form: 34-125P

Non-Runners

Coup De Pinceau¹⁴

Weight: 10-0| Age: 10

T: H Brown J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Highland Hunter (11/4), Captain Cattistock (3/1), The Wolf (3/1), Mighty Thunder (5/1), Step Back (7/1), Coup De Pinceau (14/1), Robin Des Foret (28/1)

It could be worth chancing CAPTAIN CATTISTOCK, who shaped much better than being pulled up would suggest on his return at Haydock on heavy ground 5 weeks ago and has been given a chance by the handicapper. The steadily progressive Highland Hunter is an obvious threat having finished second in the Welsh National off this mark, while Scottish National winner Mighty Thunder is worth another chance.