DragonBet Download The App Today Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 6m 24.75s

Stans The Man^b1,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Godfrey| T: Ella Pickard| OR: 107

3/1

Belatedly added to maiden hurdle success back in January 2023 when landing a 3¼m Warwick handicap in September. Has failed to complete both starts in this sphere to date, though, and others look safer.

Form: 42314U

Jack Sprat³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 105

9/4

Twice successful in handicap hurdles at Huntingdon last season. Very much a chaser on looks and there were positives to take from his debut fifth of 9 on return/debut in this sphere at Wetherby (21.3f, good to soft) where he shaped as though this step back up in trip would be welcomed.

Form: 52441-5

Moorland Rambler²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 93| C

9/2

Hurdles winner here in January 2023 and 4 of his 5 runs since switched to fences have been at this course, including when a respectable seventh of 12 over an inadequate trip (17.5f, good to soft). Entitled to come on for that reappearance spin and, down another 2 lb, he should be in the mix.

Form: 7/445P-7

Getupearly³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 88| BF| D

7/4

Still a maiden under Rules but placed on 3 of his 4 completed starts over fences, including when second to the progressive Instant Gambler (winner twice again since) at Fontwell in September. Trip/ground find and should give a good account.

Form: 76-322U

Non-Runners

Johnny B¹²

Weight: 11-8| Age: 10

T: C J Down J: Ben Ffrench-Davis

Forecasts

Getupearly (7/4), Jack Sprat (9/4), Stans The Man (3/1), Moorland Rambler (9/2), Johnny B (5/1)

While cases can realistically be made for each member of the quintet, MOORLAND RAMBLER, a winner over hurdles here in 2023, is the clear pick from a handicapping standpoint. Indeed, he was fourth in this race 12 months ago on his sole previous try over this trip and is 12 lb lower in the weights this time round. Jack Sprat made an encouraging enough start over fences at Wetherby and he is second choice ahead of Getupearly.