William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:44 | Winning time: 5m 14.59s

Chief Black Robe⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 120| CD

2/5

Vastly improved over fences for his new yard this term, readily completing a 4-timer at Worcester in July. Forced to settle for a minor role in a much deeper handicap at Market Rasen (21.4f, soft) 6 weeks ago and this looks a good opportunity to regain the winning thread.

Form: 2-11114

Mr Mafia^p⁵⁷

Age: 14| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley| OR: 117| C

10/1

Veteran campaigner who capitalised on some mercy from the assessor when making a winning return from 8 months off at this course (25.8f, good) in July, closed down only late on. Only 2 lb higher now but he'll need to pull out more if he's to follow up here.

Form: 242P4-1

Reserve Tank^b,t⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Jones| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 111| D

13/2

Represents an in-form yard and took advantage of tumbling mark to record first success since 2019/20 campaign at Market Rasen (19f) in June. However, he was tailed-off last at Worcester (23f, good to soft) 4 days ago and can't be viewed as a reliable betting proposition.

Form: P478-15

Dan's Chosen^p¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 104| CD

11/2

Returned to form from out of the blue with cheekpieces refitted when scoring over C&D in July but was well held returning to this track (good) 3 weeks later, left behind from end of back straight. Tough to support with much confidence after that.

Form: FP-7614

Forecasts

Chief Black Robe (2/5), Dan's Chosen (11/2), Reserve Tank (13/2), Mr Mafia (10/1)

Just the 4 runners and this represents a good opportunity for CHIEF BLACK ROBE to regain the winning thread back at a track where he enjoyed a couple of wide-margin wins earlier this summer. He can get the better of veteran Mr Mafia, who capitalised on some mercy from the assessor here in July and is double the selection's age. Reserve Tank can fill out third spot.