Lives Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:36 | Winning time: 5m 18.5s

Presentandcounting²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 132| D

9/2

Won 2 small-field chases at Ffos Las and Perth in the summer and turned in his most encouraging effort for a while when fourth of 9 in handicap chase at Perth (20.1f, good to firm) 28 days ago. Respected.

Form: 1508-V4

Before Midnight⁹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr Ben Sutton⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 127

8/1

Shaped best when second of 5 in hunter chase at Ludlow (20f, soft) 96 days ago, collared only close home after quickening clear in the straight. On an interesting mark back in a handicap but needs to prove he fully stays this far.

Form: 549352-

Saint Arvans^t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽⁵⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 126

7/1

Typically made hard work of things when keeping-on fourth over C&D (good to firm) 16 days ago. Frame claims again but others make more appeal for win purposes.

Form: 42P-254

Itso Fury^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 125| D

11/2

Useful handicap hurdler shaped as if in need of the run for both in terms of fitness and experience sent chasing when fourth of 6 at Southwell (20.4f, good) last month. Could do better with that under his belt.

Form: 5/P135-4

The Big Lense^p,t³³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁵⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 124

9/1

Has returned to form over hurdles of late, building on a fine second at Southwell to win a 6-runner handicap there (20.4f, soft) 33 days ago. Has to be respected back chasing.

Form: P13F-21

Jerrash^v⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 118

6/4

Had gone the wrong way latterly for previous connections but has been transformed by a change of scenery, taking advantage of his much-reduced mark when cruising clear to land an 8-runner handicap at Bangor (20.3f, good) 9 days ago. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 2345-P1

Flic Ou Voyou^p⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny McMenamin| T: H Hogarth| OR: 117

18/1

Somewhat hinted at a revival when third of 5 in handicap chase at Cartmel (25.5f, good to soft) 43 days ago, seeming stretched by the longer trip after making a bad mistake at 3 out. Others still preferred on balance.

Form: P/60P-43

Forecasts

Jerrash (6/4), Presentandcounting (9/2), Itso Fury (11/2), Saint Arvans (7/1), Before Midnight (8/1), The Big Lense (9/1), Flic Ou Voyou (18/1)

JERRASH went with much more zest when scoring at Bangor last time out and can defy an 8 lb higher mark to follow up. The Big Lense has been in good heart hurdling recently and should be in the mix if able to translate that form to chasing, with Presentandcounting taken to round out the placings.