racingtv.com Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 5m 23.39s

The Edgar Wallace^p1,t²²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 135| D

12/1

Winner of first 2 starts of 2023/24 campaign before going down narrowly in handicaps at Wetherby and Newcastle. Well held in the Topham at Aintree when last seen in April and will need to be better than ever if he's to make a winning return with first-time cheekpieces enlisted here.

Form: 8/11220-

Will Carver^t³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 135| CD

10/1

Three-time hurdles winner who made the perfect start over fences at Cartmel (21f, good to soft) in May. However, his record is rather patchy and, following a third round of wind surgery, he was nearer last than first on return at Cheltenham. Nico de Boinville prefers Doddiethegreat.

Form: 1PP-138

Doctor Ken⁶¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 133| D

8/1

Bumper/hurdles winner who made it 2-3 over fences when landing a 7-runner handicap chase at Taunton (23f, good to soft) on latest start in March 2023. Subsequent absence an obvious concern but he remains with potential as a chaser and resumes with his burgeoning yard in good form.

Form: 542121/

Doddiethegreat²²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 131| BF| CD

3/1

Followed last season's Ascot reappearance success with a couple of solid efforts in strong handicap hurdles, latterly fourth of 21 in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in February. Failed to fire final 2 starts of that campaign but he's lightly-raced and is one to be interested in on this chase debut.

Form: 1/12407-

Bourbali³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 131| C| D

11/4

Both wins over fences have come here, including when making all over 2¼m (good to soft) on his seasonal reappearance last month. 4 lb rise tolerable and, with this step back up in trip unlikely to be an issue, this 7-y-o has to be high on the shortlist.

Form: 42P6-31

Thelasthighking¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Jordan Nailor| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 126

14/1

Successful over fences at Wincanton and Southwell during 2022/23 campaign and returned with a pair of good runner-up efforts here last autumn. Form dipped thereafter, though, and he was put on his place when returning to action at Newbury recently.

Form: 2256-94

Es Perfecto²⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: A King| OR: 121| BF| D

11/4

Point/hurdles winner who was placed on his first 3 starts over fences last season, shaping particularly well when third in Timeform novices' handicap (strong form) at Cheltenham (20.6f, good to soft) in January. Misfired at Sandown on latest start in March but will have every chance if on-song here.

Form: 3/32338-

Forecasts

Es Perfecto (11/4), Bourbali (11/4), Doddiethegreat (3/1), Doctor Ken (8/1), Will Carver (10/1), The Edgar Wallace (12/1), Thelasthighking (14/1)

DODDIETHEGREAT is the only one of these without experience over fences but he boasts a fine record when fresh and makes his debut in this sphere on a potentially good mark, particularly judged on his highly creditable fourth in the Betfair Hurdle last winter. It may have simply been a case of a 'bad day at the office' for Es Perfecto at Sandown when last seen and he will be a serious threat if resuming in top form, while Bourbali and Doctor Ken, despite a 20-month absence, also command respect.