Ralph Mitchell 60th Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 5m 51.10s

Sure Touch^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 121

3/1

Had a productive 2022 over hurdles, winning 4 times, and he shaped well on his chase debut when second of 4 in handicap at Ludlow (20f, good) on return, just failing. Testing 3m too much for him at Market Rasen next time and worth another chance back down in trip.

Form: 1412-23

Eaton Collina⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 117| D

2/1

Ended last spring in fine form, winning back-to-back handicaps at Chepstow and Ascot before runner-up at Ffos Las. Possibly needed the run (also said to have lost a shoe) when pulled up on return at Wetherby, so he's worth another chance.

Form: U5112-P

Thor De Cerisy^p,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 111

10/3

Ended losing run over hurdles at Ffos Las (15.8f) in January but just the one good effort since and has struggled over fences so far, including both starts for this yard.

Form: 1524-74

Rath Gaul Hill^t1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 110

9/1

Narrowly denied on sole start in Irish point and went one better on hurdling debut at Ffos Las last year. Disappointed next 2 starts but got back on track making handicap debut after 9 months off at Doncaster 3 weeks ago, albeit never really looking like justifying support. Chase debut. Tongue tied.

Form: 2/105-5

Desque De L'Isle¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Ned Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 109| D

7/2

Dual scorer at Ludlow last season and back to form in style when winning veterans event at Lingfield 11 days ago, seeing out the longer trip well under this rider. Capable of holding his form and unexposed at this trip.

Form: 157-341

Non-Runners

Morning Spirit³¹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 8

T: J & A O'Neill J: K Brogan

Forecasts

Eaton Collina (2/1), Sure Touch (3/1), Thor De Cerisy (10/3), Desque De L'Isle (7/2), Rath Gaul Hill (9/1), Morning Spirit (10/1)

EATON COLLINA eventually got the hang of things over fences last season and had excuses at Wetherby on his return, so is worth another chance off what remains a decent mark. Desque de L'isle bounced back to form when winning at Lingfield on his first attempt at this trip and is the obvious threat ahead of Sure Touch.