bet365 Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 4m 57.38s

Happy D'ex²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: G Elliott| OR: 126| CD

5/2

Fairly useful chaser who was a bit underwhelming at Killarney last time but will likely have been primed for a big run on first go in handicaps in this sphere.

Form: 12322-6

Golden Taipan^t³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Liam Harrison| T: F O'Brien| OR: 125| CD

11/2

Won a couple of small-field handicaps here last summer and has shaped as if working up his fitness recently, so no surprise if he mounts a revival.

Form: 2493P-6

Cedar Hill³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 117

13/2

Very good second of 5 in handicap chase at Kelso (17.1f, good to soft, 6/1) 32 days ago. Goes well at that track but should take all the beating if he can replicate that form.

Form: 2365P-2

Hidden Commander^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny McMenamin| T: W Coltherd| OR: 115| D

11/5

Boasts a fine strike rate over fences and ran with credit when second at Kelso recently, so expected to be thereabouts again.

Form: 131P-72

Sword Of Fate¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: B S Hughes| T: L Kerr| OR: 105| CD

7/2

C&D winner who scored at Wetherby in April. Often goes well at this time of year but latest effort at Cartmel tempers enthusiasm.

Form: 7412-28

Forecasts

Hidden Commander (11/5), Happy D'ex (5/2), Sword Of Fate (7/2), Golden Taipan (11/2), Cedar Hill (13/2)

CEDAR HILL arrives on the back of a good effort at Kelso and is narrowly preferred to Happy d'Ex who switches to handicaps for the first time over fences. Golden Taipan goes well here and also merits consideration.