Dunes Sports Bar And Darts Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 5m 4.1s

Boomslang²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| OR: 117

13/8

Maiden hurdle winner in June and delivered an extremely polished round of jumping when successful on chase debut at Downpatrick (19.4f, good to soft) earlier this month. Mark for handicap debut in this sphere demands improvement but he almost certainly has more to offer as a chaser.

Form: 221521

Flic Ou Voyou^p⁴³

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

7/2

Eight-time winner of various race-types for Paul Nicholls and while it was a struggle initially for this yard, he has rediscovered his shooting boots the last twice. Ultimately did too much too soon on the elongated run for home at Kelso (21.6f, good) on latest start and he's a big player.

Form: P-43PD2

Backbyjet^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Craig Nichol| T: B Ellison| OR: 109| D

10/3

Recently made it 3-7 over fences at Hexham (2½m, soft) where he proved ½-length too strong for the re-opposing Coqolino (1 lb pull), again displaying a willing attitude. That fighting spirit will likely stand him in good stead once more but this demands a new personal best.

Form: 721151

Hold Onto The Line^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 106| D

15/2

Fortunate to land his fourth success (15.8f, soft) at Musselburgh in January, looking held when left in front 2 out. However, yet to win away from that course and subsequent display at Carlisle lacked spark. Cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 14P/71-5

Special Dragon^h,t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 93

6/1

Improved sent handicapping over hurdles, runner-up either side of success at Ludlow (21.2f, good) in April. Showed aptitude for this job when eighth of 13 in handicap chase at Southwell at the beginning of this month and she can be expected to leave that form well behind in time.

Form: 7021-28

Non-Runners

Coqolino¹⁹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 9

T: B Haslam J: R P McLernon

Forecasts

Boomslang (13/8), Coqolino (3/1), Backbyjet (10/3), Flic Ou Voyou (7/2), Special Dragon (6/1), Hold Onto The Line (15/2)

The vote in this trappy-looking contest goes to FLIC OU VOYOU, who proved that his Uttoxeter effort in July (dead-heated at odds of 66/1 but subsequently demoted to second) was no flash in the pan when going close at Kelso last time. He remains well-handicapped based on his exploits when in the care of Paul Nicholls and has conditions in his favour. There was much to like about the chase debut success of Boomslang and he is feared most ahead of Coqolino.