ACS Tyres Services Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:22 | Winning time: 6m 5.3s

Nothin To Ask^t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Liam Harrison| T: F O'Brien| OR: 116

3/1

Fairly useful handicap hurdler/winning chaser who showed the benefit of his Chepstow run without shaping well enough to think his losing run is about to end when third at Leicester (22.7f, good to firm) last month. Handicapper relinquishes his grip further.

Form: 52-6873

Carrigeen Castle³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 115| C

12/1

Much improved sent chasing last season, landing handicaps at this course and Wetherby (2). Hails from a yard struggling for form and was always behind on his return from 7 months off at Bangor recently. Probably best watched for now.

Form: 121P5-0

Chemical Warfare^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 111| BF| CD

5/6

Most progressive for this yard this season, winning for the fifth time over C&D in October. Shaped as if still in good form from a 7 lb higher mark at Wetherby since (clipped heels/stumbled entering straight) and can regain the winning thread dropped 1 lb.

Form: 241114

Basford^p²⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Lewis Stones⁽³⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 109

5/1

Scored 3 times over hurdles in summer 2023 at up to 3m. Went the wrong way from a mildly encouraging comeback run when tailed-off last of 6 at Hereford (25.5f, good to soft) back in May and more needed now sent chasing. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 211P7-6

Overcourt³¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 108| C

14/1

Dual hurdles winner for Sandy Thomson who made the frame on his first 5 starts over fences, off 22 months ahead of joining this yard last season. However, he completely lost his form and will need to hit the ground running on return (handicapper has dropped him another 6 lb).

Form: 3/225PP-

Forecasts

Chemical Warfare (5/6), Nothin To Ask (3/1), Basford (5/1), Carrigeen Castle (12/1), Overcourt (14/1)

CHEMICAL WARFARE has been most progressive this season and, having shaped as if still in good order at Wetherby last month, David Pipe's 7-y-o can notch victory number 6 of the campaign at the expense of Nothin To Ask, who showed the benefit of his Chepstow run last time and the handicapper continues to relinquish his grip. Chasing-debutant Basford rounds off the shortlist.