William Hill Betting TV Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:53 | Winning time: 3m 50.60s

Bathiva²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 137| D

11/8

Useful chaser who returned to hurdles to win in novice company at Southwell last month and better than even when dominating a small field back over fences at Worcester since. Faces competition for the lead this time but should still go well.

Form: 41-5311

Leapaway^p²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137| C| D

8/1

Largely reliable, including a win at Warwick in May, which suggests it won't take him too long to bounce back from a below-form fourth at Worcestrer last month.

Form: 162-134

Mercian Prince^b,t⁵²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 137

9/4

Hurdle/chase winner in the first half of last season. Good second over C&D in June and has won and finished second over hurdles in France since then. Should give another good account.

Form: 4V-2212

Romanor⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 110| BF| CDWS

3/1

Headstrong sort who showed fine attitude when scoring over C&D in June. Left impression he should have gone closer when third over C&D latest. Has had wind surgery. Much respected.

Form: 35-4143

Non-Runners

Peterborough³

Weight: 10-10| Age: 9

T: Evan Williams J: Isabel Williams

Forecasts

Bathiva (11/8), Mercian Prince (9/4), Romanor (3/1), Peterborough (10/3), Leapaway (8/1)

Only 5 take part but there's a few confirmed front-runners amongst them so this could set up nicely for hold-up performewr ROMANOR on his return from wind surgery. Bathiva may give him most to do.