Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 3m 59.42s

Hatcher¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 138| D

16/1

Has an excellent strike rate but ran no sort of race returning from 8 months off at Newbury (16.4f, good) 13 days ago, left behind quickly 5 out. Mark continues to ease but others more persuasive.

Form: 366UF-P

Elixir De Nutz^t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 136| D

5/2

Smart hurdler who lost his way after a couple of small-filed novice wins last season but shaped as if retaining ability on his reappearance at Ascot 3 weeks ago and is likely to be back near the top of his game here. Interesting.

Form: 211PP-9

Xcitations²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 130| CD

9/4

Ended last season with back-to-back 2m wins. including this corresponding event and shaped as if better for the run after 10 months off when fourth at Wetherby (19.4f) 27 days ago. Eased 2 lb and must enter calculations back down in trip.

Form: 22511-4

Nelson River¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: R T Dunne| T: A W Carroll| OR: 126| D

8/1

Caused a surprise when taking 4-runner novice at Leicester on debut over fences in February. However, was beaten a fair way in a Sandown handicap in April and fared no better when pulled up at Kempton on reappearance 18 days ago. Back down in trip and has work to do.

Form: 05/125-P

Onthefrontfoot^h⁴⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 124| D

2/1

Bagged a third chasing win in 3-runner handicap chase at Cartmel (17.3f) in August 2021. Absent since but reappears from a 4 lower mark and yard's runners rarely lack for fitness.

Form: 412/121-

Non-Runners

Notlongtillmay²⁷

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: L Morgan J: Patrick Cowley

Forecasts

Notlongtillmay (15/8), Onthefrontfoot (2/1), Xcitations (9/4), Elixir De Nutz (5/2), Nelson River (8/1), Hatcher (16/1)

ELIXIR DE NUTX lost his way a little in the spring but shaped as if retaining ability on his reappearance at Ascot and looks interesting with that run behind him now back in a smaller field (could dominate). He's given the vote, ahead of last year's winner Xcitations, and the lightly-raced Notlongtillmay, who looks set to make a better chaser than hurdler judged on his recent win at Wetherby.