bet365 Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 4m 32.24s

Sacre Coeur^h,t1²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 131| D

16/5

Showed a good attitude to notch her third win of the season at Ludlow (16f) in December. Posed another good effort when second at Sandown last time and she's a player with tongue tied added.

Form: 143142

Escapeandevade^p¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 128| CD

15/8

Hurdles winner who bounced back to best in cheekpieces with chase successes at Sedgefield and over C&D recently. Solid claims with headgear again sported.

Form: P4-4411

Whoshotthesheriff¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Ross Chapman| T: P A Kirby| OR: 124| D

18/1

Won a couple of times in 2021/22 but lightly raced since and has offered little after 14 months off in handicap chases at Wetherby and here this year. Has something to prove.

Form: 15/25-P3

Gold Des Bois^t³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 116| CD

5/2

Back-to-back C&D winner of small-field handicaps in autumn 2022 but his recent exploits are not so inspiring, only eighth of 10 in handicap chase at Doncaster (16.4f, good) 35 days ago. Others appeal more.

Form: 6-32948

Duty Calls¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Lewis Stones⁽³⁾| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 100| CD

9/2

C&D winner and in good nick until coming in last of 7 to Netywell in handicap chase at Ayr (16.5f, heavy) 18 days ago. Needs to get back on track.

Form: 16-4227

Non-Runners

Netywell⁷

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: P W Wadge

Cedar Hill²⁷

Weight: 11-3| Age: 10

T: A M Thomson J: Ryan Mania

Coastguard Station⁷⁷

Weight: 10-13| Age: 8

T: Henry Oliver J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Escapeandevade (15/8), Gold Des Bois (5/2), Sacre Coeur (16/5), Netywell (10/3), Duty Calls (9/2), Coastguard Station (10/1), Cedar Hill (10/1), Whoshotthesheriff (18/1)

This looks wide open but the vote goes to the likeable SACRE COEUR who arrives on the back of a good Sandown second and can go one better now eased 1 lb. Escapeandevade is another solid option. Netywell can't be discounted either as he bids to complete his four-timer. Course-specialist Cedar Hill completes the shortlist.