William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 6m 37.20s

Mulcahys Hill^b1⁵⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: W Greatrex| OR: 114

18/1

Useful hurdler/chaser in his prime but seemingly on the downgrade nowadays and he didn'r run much of a race back hurdling at Worcester 8 weeks ago. First-time blinkers replace cheekpieces.

Form: 9755F-8

Nelsons Rock³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 110| CD

15/8

Fair winning hurdler who made a successful chase debut over C&D last month, jumping soundly. Seems sure to do better and a 5 lb rise may not stop him.

Form: 4124-21

Jony Max^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 107| D

3/1

Pair of wins last season and has remained in form with runner-up efforts at Ffos Las and Worcester in recent months. Should go well again for a yard which is no stranger to success in this contest.

Form: 1321-22

Mellow Ben^t1³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 107

13/2

Drawn a blank since winning twice in autumn 2019. Mark has come down a good way as a result but he hasn't been showing enough to suggest he's ready to capitalise. Cheekpieces worn last time off, first-time tongue strap on.

Form: 63653-5

Flying Verse^b,t³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: David Dennis| OR: 102| CD

20/1

Successful in handicaps at Bangor and Kelso last summer but lost his way during the rest of the campaign and his remote second over C&D in May was no step back in the right direction. Well-held fourth at Cartmel since.

Form: PF54-24

Port O'clock^b1,t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 100

10/3

Four-time point winner who landed Exeter hunter on his chase debut in April. Good start in handicaps for his new stable when narrowly denied at Worcester (23f) 12 days ago. Blinkers replace cheekpieces. Likely to go well again.

Form: 1431-22

Troed Y Melin²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: C Honour| OR: 95

14/1

Back to form with a bang when scoring at Warwick (25f) in May but consistency has never been his strong suit and he was well behind Jony Max at Worcester since.

Form: 44PP-15

Forecasts

Nelsons Rock (15/8), Jony Max (3/1), Port O'clock (10/3), Mellow Ben (13/2), Troed Y Melin (14/1), Mulcahys Hill (18/1), Flying Verse (20/1)

There should be more to come from NELSONS ROCK over fences so he's taken to make light of a 5 lb rise for his C&D success a month ago. Jony Max and Port O'clock are others with positive profiles and should ensure Joe Tizzard's charge doesn't have things all his own way.