Elaine Fraser Fabulous At Fifty Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:52 | Winning time: 4m 14.23s

Light N Strike⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: J R Wildman⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 124| CD

7/4

Has quickly progressed over fences, off the mark over C&D in November while he might have followed up at Southwell but for losing momentum late on. Not quite in the same form at Newbury but better expected now.

Form: 3-22123

Minella Hub²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Bannister| T: P G Murphy| OR: 121| BF| CD

13/8

Failed to trouble the judge in 3 spins over hurdles but different proposition since switched to fences, landing brace of C&D handicaps this winter. Unsuited by emphasis on speed in hat-trick bid latest and probably remains in top form. Leading claims.

Form: 466113

Fairway Freddy²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 118| CD

11/2

Was 2-2 over C&D (including this race) last season. Slow start to the campaign but down in the weights and much more like it away from the mud when landing 3-runner contest over 19.8f a month ago. Got to be of interest again.

Form: 338P31

Jan Maat^p¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 114| D

14/1

Useful chaser at his best for Henry de Bromhead but has finished down the field in 4 starts hurdling/chasing for this yard and hard to see a resurgence coming here.

Form: 400074

The Flying Sofa^b1²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 113| BF| C

13/2

Fairly useful chaser but little to get excited about this season, failing to land the odds and looking awkward in the process behind Fairway Freddy here last month. No surprise blinkers are applied.

Form: 432-453

Forecasts

Minella Hub (13/8), Light N Strike (7/4), Fairway Freddy (11/2), The Flying Sofa (13/2), Jan Maat (14/1)

MINELLA HUB defends an unbeaten C&D record and given the race wasn't run to suit at Southwell last time, he needs treating as though still in top form. Light N Strike and Fairway Freddy look the main threats.