Arthur & Peggy White Memorial Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 46.1s

Le Cameleon^t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 129

7/2

Successful twice in the second half of last season and made a winning reappearance at Warwick (2½m, good) in October. Latest effort was poor but capable of a bold show in this less competitive affair off a 2 lb lower mark.

Form: 414-1F7

Frenchy Du Large⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 129| BF

10/3

Won back-to-back 2½m handicaps at Uttoxeter and Chepstow around the turn of last year. However, added to a disconcerting completion race over fences when falling on return and jumping was again far from foot perfect when only fourth at Ludlow.

Form: 112F-F4

Dead Right^p1⁴⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 126

14/1

Lightly-raced 11-y-o who was sharper for return when going close at Market Rasen (21.4f, good) in September, hampered 4 out but keeping on to go down narrowly. Perhaps needed the run back from a 3-month break at Doncaster and now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: 00/2-429

Neon Moon^b,t⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 123

3/1

Progressive over hurdles last season, winning 3 times, and solid start to chasing when fifth in a handicap at Exeter in November. Early faller on first run following a wind op at Wincanton recently but remains unexposed in this sphere and big chance granted a clear round here.

Form: 11-656F

Milan Bridge^p,t⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 123

85/40

Reached a fairly useful level in landing 3 of his 5 starts over hurdles and walked over on intended chase debut at Ascot in November. Sported first-time cheekpieces (retained here) when brought down before the race started to take shape at Wincanton on Boxing Day and he remains of interest.

Form: 11-214B

Forecasts

Milan Bridge (85/40), Neon Moon (3/1), Frenchy Du Large (10/3), Le Cameleon (7/2), Dead Right (14/1)

The vote goes to NEON MOON, who didn't shape at all badly starting out over fences at Exeter in November and there have been excuses since (race came too soon on second start of the campaign then he fell back from a break at Wincanton). He is just 1 lb higher than for the third of his 3 wins over hurdles last season and he's still very much an unknown quantity in this sphere. Milan Bridge is a similar type in many respects and he is feared most ahead of the top-weight Le Cameleon.