Royal Caledonian Hunt Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 6m 25.09s

Buster Valentine²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: M Walford| OR: 124| BF| D

7/4

Lightly-raced chaser who needed the run after 2 years off at Kelso and back to his near best when second at Wetherby next time. Not quite in same form there since but step up in trip will suit.

Form: P71/P23

Paris Texas^h⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: J Bedi| OR: 119| D

28/1

Fair handicap chaser in Ireland, latest win in chase at Downpatrick in June. Excuses when pulled up final start. Sold from Padraig Roche £4,500 in January.

Form: 0-P155P

Dragonfruit^p⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Toby Wynne⁽⁷⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 114| BF| D

3/1

Doubled his chase tally at Bangor on return and backed it up with a creditable second at Ayr. Not on a going day at Newcastle last time but has been given a break since.

Form: 6P7-12P

Methodtothemadness^t⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 109

13/2

Off the mark over fences at Hexham (20f) in June and 3 solid placed efforts since, though struggled stepped up to a class 3 at Cheltenham latest. Others appeal more for win purposes.

Form: 16333P

Scoop The Pot^p⁴³

Age: 12| Weight: 10-10| J: Alain Cawley| T: B Haslam| OR: 108| D

17/2

Veteran who took advantage of his sliding mark when narrowly prevailing at Newcastle in December. Made plenty of mistakes and found to be coughing there next time so that is easily forgiven.

Form: 03561P

Seemingly So^p¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Morgan| OR: 91

7/2

Out of sorts this season and easy to oppose from 7 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 3FP065

Non-Runners

First Account⁴⁸

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: K Dalgleish J: B S Hughes

Forecasts

First Account (13/8), Buster Valentine (7/4), Dragonfruit (3/1), Seemingly So (7/2), Methodtothemadness (13/2), Scoop The Pot (17/2), Paris Texas (28/1)

BUSTER VALENTINE had excuses at Wetherby last time and is worth another chance to build on his Boxing Day second there stepping up to a trip that should suit. First Account can fill the runner-up spot again, with Dragonfruit best of the others.