Flowfit Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 4m 11.05s

Not Available^p,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 130| CD

15/2

Useful chaser who hit the target 3 times last season, including when running away with a 5-runner Chepstow handicap in a first-time visor in April. However, subsequently pulled up at Kempton and this season's efforts over hurdles with cheekpieces refitted (retained here) have not been inspiring.

Form: 141-P68

Stormin Crossgales^h,t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 120| D

5/1

Hurdles winner who improved when making all on chase debut at Wincanton on reappearance last season. Hasn't managed to build on that since but he was a respectable third on return over hurdles back at Wincanton and couldn't rule out off this 2 lb lower mark.

Form: 1P3-4P3

Feel The Pinch^t³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 117| D

3/1

Has had a productive time since joining Robbie Llewellyn, gaining a fourth win since March when readily seeing off 7 rivals in a Southwell handicap hurdle (2m, good to soft) last month. Wasn't disgraced in a big-field at Cheltenham since and merits respect back in this sphere (2-5 over fences).

Form: 311619

You Say Nothing²⁰²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 114| D

14/1

Limited to just 4 starts last term but won 2 of those, including a 2m handicap at Ffos Las (soft) when last seen in May. Resumes on a 6 lb higher mark and in a tougher race but will be a threat if fully tuned-up for this seasonal reappearance.

Form: 12/515-1

Desque De L'Isle²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 112| CD

11/4

Cosy winner of this race 12 months ago and made it 2-3 here when following up next time. Below par since but should come on for his reappearance effort at Huntingdon earlier this month and he's slipped back to an attractive mark.

Form: P1157-3

Lime Drop¹⁹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 110| D

3/1

Five-time hurdles winner during 2021/22 campaign and offered something to work on when second in a 6-runner handicap here (2½m, good) on chase debut in May. Resumes on a 2 lb lower mark and while her record when fresh is rather off-putting, she's not discounted.

Form: 4/8290-2

Forecasts

Desque De L'Isle (11/4), Feel The Pinch (3/1), Lime Drop (3/1), Stormin Crossgales (5/1), Not Available (15/2), You Say Nothing (14/1)

DESQUE DE L'ISLE needs to bounce back having ended last season on a low-key note and was safely held when returning from 8 months off at Huntingdon. Conversely, it's worth noting that he failed to fire on his reappearance last season before scoring twice over this C&D (including this corresponding race) and, now 3 lb lower than for the second of those two wins, the 10-y-o is worth chancing. The others are all closely matched, with Feel The Pinch and Stormin Crossgales feared most.