Belhaven Brewery Handicap Chase

Off time: 18:37 | Winning time: 4m 6.20s

Grey Diamond^h,t²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 130

28/1

Useful handicap chaser at best but little impact in handful of starts for Gordon Elliott and his debut second on debut for new yard last month was pretty underwhelming. Eased further in the weights ahead of this but he's a bit to prove at present. Hood back on.

Form: 700-502

Arthur's Quay^t⁸⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 129| D

14/1

Winner of back-to-back handicaps during second half of last year who was shaping up well prior to making a race-ending blunder when pulled up at Cartmel (21f) in June. Absent since but he's fallen back down to his last winning mark.

Form: 411P-4P

Pay The Piper^t¹¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 128| D

5/2

Useful winning chaser who arrives here in good heart, second of 8 in handicap chase at Cartmel (17.3f, good to soft) in May. Losing run is mounting up but he ought to go well again.

Form: P632-42

Cracking Destiny³²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Callum Bewley| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 113| D

10/1

Better for return when respectable seventh of 13 in handicap chase at Uttoxeter in June but disappointing both starts over fences/hurdles subsequently. Needs to bounce back but the assessor has relinquished his grip a little more.

Form: 43-67U0

Restandbethankful^t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 112| D

6/4

Won twice over fences last year and resumed from wind surgery with a cosy success in 5-runner handicap chase at Cartmel (17.3f, soft) 25 days ago. Definite possibilities again up 7 lb.

Form: 9-84221

Garde Des Champs^t⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 112

10/3

On a losing run but he recorded a respectable fourth of 6 in handicap chase at Perth (20.1f, good to soft, 12/1) 9 days ago, outpaced home turn before rallying gradually. Eased a little more in the weights now dropping back down in trip.

Form: 263234

Non-Runners

Mint Gold¹⁴⁷

Weight: 11-5| Age: 10

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: P W Wadge

Forecasts

Restandbethankful (6/4), Pay The Piper (5/2), Mint Gold (3/1), Garde Des Champs (10/3), Cracking Destiny (10/1), Arthur's Quay (14/1), Grey Diamond (28/1)

RESTANDBETHANKFUL confirmed recent promise on the back of wind surgery when successful at Cartmel 25 days ago, leading on bridle 2 out and reduced advantage only close home. He gets the narrow vote to follow up, with Pay The Piper and Mint Gold heading up the dangers.