Get Pulling With PJ Nicholls SsangYong Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 5m 7.70s

Hang In There²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 143| CD

6/4

Scored 5 times (at up to 21.4f) last season and returned to winning ways in 7-runner handicap chase at Stratford (19.4f, good) 25 days ago, digging deep. 5 lb higher now but holds leading claims nonetheless.

Form: 14-2531

Francky Du Berlais^t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 139| CD

11/2

Not scored since July of last year but ran to the pick of his hurdles form when second in handicap at Newton Abbot (21.6f, good) last month and is back on his last winning mark over the larger obstacles.

Form: R0-3052

La Domaniale²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 135| D

5/1

Recaptured the pick of her form from last summer when winning at Aintree (19.9f, good) in May and posted respectable third to Hang In There in handicap chase at Stratford (19.4f, good) latest. Others look better treated, though.

Form: 146-193

Hatcher⁷⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 126| C

9/1

Only narrowly denied at Fakenham (21.2f) in June but isn't the easiest to win with nowadays and was below par when last seen at Uttoxeter 78 days ago.

Form: F3P-324

Topofthecotswolds^p⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 126| C| D

4/1

Course winner who has acquitted himself well in defeat in recent starts, latest when third of 11 in handicap chase at Bangor (24f, good) 45 days ago. Ought to give another good account.

Form: 3P-6423

Kauto The King^t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 114| CD

10/1

Returned to form (on back of second wind operation) when taking 4-runner handicap chase (9/2) at Newton Abbot (16.3f, good) 16 days ago. Effective over this longer trip and can't be ruled out. 3 lb out of the weights.

Form: 433341

Non-Runners

Fix At All¹⁶

Weight: 10-7| Age: 7

T: N P Mulholland J: R P McLernon

Forecasts

Hang In There (6/4), Topofthecotswolds (4/1), La Domaniale (5/1), Francky Du Berlais (11/2), Hatcher (9/1), Kauto The King (10/1), Fix At All (12/1)

HANG IN THERE boasts a fine strike rate over fences and showed a good attitude when opening his account for this season at Stratford last month. He can follow up. Francky du Berlais and Topofthecotswolds rate the principal dangers.