William Hill Castleford Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 137| D

Dual scorer last term who got back to winning ways when taking 6-runner handicap chase (9/2) at Sandown (15.4f, good to soft) 20 days ago. Found life tougher in better company at Newbury last time but mark doesn't yet strike as excessive and he's a player.

Form: 25P-513

Gunsight Ridge^t³⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 135| BF

Absent since respectable fifth at Aintree last December and had won first time up at the same course (15.8f) previously. Returns on a fair mark and is stll relatively low mileage as a chaser, so can't be discounted despite absence.

Form: 213P/15-

Cornerstone Lad^p³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 125| CD

Smart hurdler at best and though not quite at the same level over fences, he ran respectably in the wake of a facile winner when second of 6 in handicap chase at this course (19.4f, heavy, 13/2) 39 days ago. Mark has eased further and he's in the mix.

Form: 44243-2

Escapeandevade²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: J Ewart| OR: 121

Point winner remains lightly raced under Rules, though made the most of a good opportunity when scoring at Ayr last January. Weak finishes have become a regular feature of his efforts, including over C&D last month, and he remains with something to prove.

Form: 2/31P4-4

Gold Des Bois^t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: I Jardine| OR: 121

Landed back-to-back contests at Kelso last autumn and ran creditably to make the placings there on his first 2 outings there this term. Well held up in grade at Cheltenham last time and he's not fully discounted in more realistic company.

Form: 546-329

Forecasts

Gunsight Ridge (2/1), Xcitations (9/4), Escapeandevade (4/1), Cornerstone Lad (6/1), Gold Des Bois (7/1)

GUNSIGHT RIDGE can make a winning return for the second consecutive season, his mark now only 2 lb higher than when scoring at Aintree on his last season's comeback. Xcitations should be more at home in this company than when third at Newbury last time and rates as the main danger, with Cornerstone Lad taken to complete the 1-2-3.