Nuts Well Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 4m 20.97s

Pay The Piper¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 131| CD

15/8

Useful winning chaser lacked nothing in fitness as he ended a losing run following 4 months off in 6-runner handicap chase over C&D last month. Ran at least as well in defeat when runner-up at Wetherby (15.2f, good to soft) 10 days ago and no surprise should he regain the winning thread.

Form: 32-4212

El Borracho^t⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 128| CD

14/1

Useful hurdler/chaser at best and a likeable type who jumps nimbly. Shaped like a non-stayer back in this sphere at Stratford (19.4f) in August but fared better returned to shorter when third of 6 there (17f, good) 7 weeks ago. Potentially very well handicapped.

Form: 34-0443

Cannock Park¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Craig Nichol| T: Paul Robson| OR: 127| BF| D

13/8

Point winner who landed a Bangor bumper and Cheltenham maiden hurdle last autumn. Placed twice in Graded novice hurdles subsequently but failed to meet expectations sent chasing after 6 months off at Hexham a fortnight ago. Sure to be all the sharper for that here, though.

Form: 1332-05

Bollingerandkrug^t¹⁷¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 117| CD

8/1

Showed improved form switched to front-running tactics last season, landing hat-trick between May and November 2023 (middle leg came in this race also following break). Below form since though and down to a tempting mark as a result. Needs to show more on return, however.

Form: 11566-9

Jack Holiday^p²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Burke| T: D M Christie| OR: 116| D

7/1

Gambled-on and got off the mark for this yard at Wexford in August and has continued to thrive, resuming winning ways with a trademark display at Killarney (17f, soft) just under 3 weeks ago, the race rather falling apart behind him. Sure to be popular but a 10 lb rise makes his task much harder.

Form: 6-41451

Gold Des Bois^t¹⁵²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: A M Thomson| OR: 112| CD

10/1

Hasn't got his head in front since back-to-back wins over C&D in 2022 but the handicapper has relented and he returned to form when second in a 5-runner contest there in March. Makes return/yard debut after 5 months off and percentage call is to look elsewhere despite a tumbling mark.

Form: 9482-67

Forecasts

Cannock Park (13/8), Pay The Piper (15/8), Jack Holiday (7/1), Bollingerandkrug (8/1), Gold Des Bois (10/1), El Borracho (14/1)

PAY THE PIPER made a winning return over C&D last month and having matched that form in defeat at Wetherby subsequently, Ann Hamilton's 9-y-o is fancied to regain the winning thread at the expense of Irish-raider Jack Holiday, who bolted up at Killarney earlier this month and has been hit with a hefty 10 lb rise. Front-runner El Borracho has become potentially very well handicapped, so he rounds off the shortlist.