Paddy Power New Year's Day Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 5m 25.53s

Stage Star⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 166| CD

11/10

Excelled over fences last season, landing Grade 1 Golden Miller at the Festival here, and took his form up another level when bagging Paddy Power Gold Cup here on his return, jumping superbly apart from a bad error at the last. The one to beat.

Form: 21115-1

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Al Dancer^p,t⁶⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁷⁾| T: S Thomas| OR: 154| C| D

11/1

Course winner who made a winning reappearance in Chepstow conditions event. Backed it up with a good third in the Old Roan at Aintree so he shouldn't be ruled out off an unchanged mark.

Form: 32/10-13

Richmond Lake²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 150| D

9/2

Quickly got his act together over fences earlier this year and he progressed again to complete a four-timer in 9-runner handicap chase at Aintree (19.9f, heavy) 23 days ago. Up another 8 lb but he's still not taken lightly.

Form: 1211-11

Shakem Up'arry^t³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 139

11/2

Made a winning return at Exeter (19.2f) last winter and has largely held his form well since, posting a solid sixth of 20 in handicap chase at Newbury (26f, good to soft) 30 days ago when going with enthusiasm. Considered now back down in trip.

Form: 1534-P6

Frero Banbou¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 136

13/2

Arrives on a lengthy losing run but he's firmly back on track now and has posted two excellent placed efforts in handicaps at Newbury and over C&D on his last 2 runs. Another solid showing is expected despite being 4 lb "wrong" in the weights.

Form: 340-323

Torn And Frayed¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132| CD

18/1

C&D winner who comes here on the back of a respectable sixth of 12 in handicap chase at this C&D (good to soft) 16 days ago. Not easy to make a case for from 8 lb out of the handicap, however.

Form: 22P1/F6

Forecasts

Stage Star (11/10), Richmond Lake (9/2), Shakem Up'arry (11/2), Frero Banbou (13/2), Al Dancer (11/1), Torn And Frayed (18/1)

STAGE STAR has to concede lumps of weight all round but advertised his Ryanair claims when a decisive winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup here on his return and can now defy an official mark of 166. Richmond Lake also arrives on an upward curve and is feared most in his bid to complete a remarkable five-timer, although a solid case can also be made for in-form duo Frero Banbou and Shakem Up' Arry.