Vickers.Bet Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 7m 20.72s

Light Flicker^p¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: R Potter| OR: 111| CD

10/3

Fair winning chaser who was a creditable seventh of 19 in a Cheltenham handicap on his reappearance. That was a very competitive Class 3 and he should have a big say back in calmer waters.

Form: 78226-7

Motion In Limine^b,t⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 108| BF

6/1

Fair hurdler. Solid start to his chase career when second at Cartmel in August but ran no sort of race at Stratford a fortnight later.

Form: 6-8432P

Dragonfruit^p⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 105

2/1

Added to his good record fresh when striking on his 3m Uttoxeter reappearance in September. The fact he soon lost his form last season raises doubts about him backing that up but he retains handicapping scope on his best form.

Form: 2P446-1

Crixus's Escape^p²⁰⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Theo Gillard| T: G Boanas| OR: 102

25/1

Runner-up twice off significantly higher marks in early 2022 but struggled badly last season and it remains to be seen whether a 6-month break sparks a revival.

Form: 7PP5PP-

Fortcanyon^t¹⁹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 100

10/1

Pair of handicap hurdle wins at up to 3m earlier in the year. Point background provides hope he'll take to fences but peak fitness has to be taken on trust after 6 months off.

Form: P14931-

Onestepatatime^p¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 96| CD

5/2

Won twice over C&D in January and only narrowly failed to complete a hat-trick back here in March. Sharper for a reappearance run over hurdles at Kelso last month and much respected with cheekpieces back on at a venue which suits.

Form: 51126-4

Forecasts

Dragonfruit (2/1), Onestepatatime (5/2), Light Flicker (10/3), Motion In Limine (6/1), Fortcanyon (10/1), Crixus's Escape (25/1)

LIGHT FLICKER should find this less demanding than the big-field Cheltenham handicap he contested on his reappearance and is taken to get his head back in front under Brian Hughes. C&D specialist Onestepatatime should be spot on for this after a spin over hurdles last month and is second choice ahead of Uttoxeter winner Dragonfruit.