Visit racingtv.com Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 6m 36.66s

Lounge Lizard^b1⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly| OR: 111| BF

5/2

Made the frame all 6 starts over hurdles and stepped up on disappointing chase debut when third in a 9-runner Warwick handicap (2½m) on New Year's Eve. Now 2 lb lower/tried in blinkers and step back up in trip won't hurt but he doesn't tend to find much when push comes to shove.

Form: 232-263

Betty Baloo²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 110| CD

11/10

Dual bumper/hurdles scorer who made it third time lucky over fences when accounting for next-time-out winner Credo in a mares' C&D handicap earlier this month. Nudged up just 2 lb, this reliable 7-y-o looks the one to beat.

Form: 3-23261

Mance Rayder^b⁹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: H Hogarth| OR: 105

11/1

Has fallen a fair way in the weights (currently 12 lb below last winning mark) and returned to form when runner-up at Newcastle (23.4f) in November. Not in the same form at Doncaster later that month, though, and subsequent break probably doesn't help (record when fresh isn't at all great).

Form: 66-5625

Fiston Du Mou^p,t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: P Neville| OR: 99| CD

7/2

Bounced back from a couple of below par performances when making all to see off Creative Control in a match over this C&D recently. Up just 1 lb for that and good chance he'll again be allowed to dictate, so he needs considering for his in-form yard.

Form: 4U1551

Skiddaw Tara^t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: S Mulqueen| T: M A Barnes| OR: 98| D

40/1

Best effort since winning a 3m novice for Nicky Richards in 2020 when second in a 3-runner C&D handicap on stable debut last February. However, well held both starts over hurdles since returning to action in November and he's easy enough to swerve.

Form: 4/852-47

Forecasts

Betty Baloo (11/10), Lounge Lizard (5/2), Fiston Du Mou (7/2), Mance Rayder (11/1), Skiddaw Tara (40/1)

BETTY BALOO had no problem with the step up to this trip when opening her account over C&D last time and she looks by far the most solid proposition. The maiden Lounge Lizard and Mance Rayder both figure on appealing marks but Fiston du Mou at least confirmed his wellbeing when winning a match here recently and he is feared most.