Elite Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 6m 23.4s

Ruthless Article^t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 135| CD

2/1

Can be hard to catch right but has a good record over C&D, runner-up in the Summer Cup here for the last 2 seasons, the most recent renewal only 28 days.

Form: 215P-42

Hell Red^p,t⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 131| C| D

13/2

Enjoyed a highly-productive spell small-field novice events in chases last summer before winning yet another match race at Fontwell in April. Not in the same form over hurdles on his last 2 outings but shouldn't be discounted back chasing.

Form: 1121-44

Fidux^p1²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 129

3/1

Not quite the force of old but he's proven he retains his enthuasiasm this summer, only beaten narrowly at Fakenham in April before producing another pair of fine efforts in defeat, showing up well for a long way when fourth of 16 over C&D (good) 28 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time here.

Form: 5922-24

Landofsmiles^p¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 129| C

7/2

Proved at least as good as ever after 16-month absence off with 3m win here in May. Fell on next outing, though, and failed to beat a rival home at Southwell last week, so has bit to prove now.

Form: 293/1F5

Court Master^p²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 123

11/2

One-time useful chaser but he's never seemed the easiest to train and hasn't quite looked the force of old in pair of outings over hurdles since joining this yard from Michael Scudamore. Others are preferred.

Form: 48/PP-23

Forecasts

Ruthless Article (2/1), Fidux (3/1), Landofsmiles (7/2), Court Master (11/2), Hell Red (13/2)

Without anything particuarly unexposed in opposition, a chance is taken that FIDUX will be able to notch his first win in over 2 years here. Alan King's veteran has been in good heart his summer, making the frame in the Summer Cup here on his previous outing, and is perhaps the most solid option in the field. Ruthless Article finished ahead of the selection last time and is highly respected, is prone to throwing in an odd poor run, whilst Hell Red has a decent strike rate in small-field affairs.