Bet At Your Best With Betfair Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 4m 20.3s

Xcitations²⁶⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: C J Todd| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 129| D

16/1

Seen to good effect when resuming winning ways at Sandown (15.5f) 12 months ago but largely struggled thereafter, including when fourth of 8 in handicap chase at Huntingdon (19.9f, heavy) in April. Has often needed a run to put him spot on but he's fallen to a handy mark.

Form: 13U764-

Home Free^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 129| D

11/8

Hurdles winner who opened his chase account returning from 5 months off (had wind op and tongue tied) at Uttoxeter in October and improved again when following up in emphatic fashion in handicap at Ayr (16.5f) 26 days ago. Up 10 lb but big shout in hat-trick bid.

Form: 215-211

General Medrano²¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 129| DWS

4/1

Fairly useful hurdler who improved switched to chasing, landing first 2 starts and plenty of good efforts in defeat thereafter. Below-par effort at Kempton in April but eased 2 lb ahead of return and he won on seasonal bow last term. Had wind surgery.

Form: 125437-

Netywell²³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 129| CD

11/2

Consistent type who scored over C&D last December on way to completing a quick-fire hat-trick at Newcastle (16.3f) in February. Faded out of things when fourth at Carlisle (2m, heavy) on final start in April but he returns with his yard in good order.

Form: 331114-

Eden Du Houx^t³³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 128| D

22/1

Doubled his tally in this sphere at Ffos Las 2 years ago. Very lightly raced since, not threatening on back of 9 months off/wind surgery when fourth of 7 in handicap chase at Ascot (18.8f) last December. The betting can prove a useful guide on the back of an 11-month absence.

Form: 81P2P/4-

Galunggung¹⁹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 124| D

4/1

Progressive, dual winner over hurdles who made perfect start in this sphere when winning 4-runner handicap chase at Perth (2m) in May, kicking on from 2 out and kept up to work. Type to progress further and respected up in grade after 6 months off.

Form: 12/11-1

Dr T J Eckleburg²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Conor Ring| T: Evan Williams| OR: 112| D

14/1

Two chase wins from lower marks last term and shaped as if he'd come on for the run following 6 months off when third of 5 in handicap chase at Newton Abbot (16.3f, soft) 24 days ago. Eased 1 lb ahead of this but couple of others appeal more for win purposes.

Form: 32434-3

Forecasts

Home Free (11/8), General Medrano (4/1), Galunggung (4/1), Netywell (11/2), Dr T J Eckleburg (14/1), Xcitations (16/1), Eden Du Houx (22/1)

HOME FREE has improved on the back of wind surgery/equipped with a tongue tie, following up his Uttoxeter success with the minimum of fuss at Ayr 26 days ago. The handicapper has reacted but he's unlikely to have finished improving yet on that evidence and can complete the hat-trick. General Medrano returns with his yard in good form and along with progressive 8-y-o Galunggung, heads the dangers.