G.E.White & Sons Agricultural Buildings Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 6m 47.98s

Lady Balko¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 12-2| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 122| CD

6/5

On a roll in handicap hurdles last season, completing a hat-trick at up to 3m. Shaped as if needing the run on return/chase debut and marked herself as a young staying chaser to follow when winning 6-runner handicap chase at this C&D (soft) 2 weeks ago. Will improve again.

Form: 1122-51

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Foxboro²⁷⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Miss Brodie Hampson⁽³⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 122

28/1

Proved at least as good as ever when scoring at Exeter (30.7f, heavy) 12 months ago but laboured efforts on his next 3 starts. Has since switched yards ahead of this return so a watching brief advised with usual headgear discarded.

Form: 781927-

Northern Poet²¹⁸

14/1

Recorded a hat-trick switched to fences in the second half of 2022/23. Seen only 3 times last season and ran creditably in first-time cheekpieces when second of 4 to Copperhead at this C&D (good to firm) back in May. Has gone well fresh previously so he's a likely contender (has had a wind op).

Form: 11/P55-2

Village Master^p1³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 112| D

9/2

Won first 5 outings over fences. latest in 26f handicap at Fontwell in June. Had another wind op prior to return and lost his unbeaten record in this sphere with a whimper after 5 months off at Ffos Las (23.8f, good to soft) just over 5 weeks ago. Must bounce back fitted with cheekpieces.

Form: 11-111P

Born At Midnight^p1¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Kimber| T: W G M Turner| OR: 110| CD

33/1

Dual C&D winner and he signed off last season with a good second of 11 in handicap chase at this C&D in the spring. Proved easy to back after 8 months off and looked very rusty here (soft) a fortnight ago and now first-time cheekpieces go on.

Form: 34112-P

Sadler's Bay^t1¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: G Sheehan| T: T R Gretton| OR: 95

2/1

Fair maiden hurdler who took well to fences season, finishing runner-up in 3m handicaps at Southwell and Exeter. Wasn't disgraced after 10 months off when third at Market Rasen (21.4f, soft) recently and that should've blown away any cobwebs. Tongue tie applied.

Form: 34223-3

Forecasts

Lady Balko (6/5), Sadler's Bay (2/1), Village Master (9/2), Northern Poet (14/1), Foxboro (28/1), Born At Midnight (33/1)

LADY BALKO marked herself as a young chaser to follow when scooting clear over C&D a fortnight ago, so she's taken to defy a 9 lb rise at the expense of Sadler's Bay, who wasn't disgraced after 10 months off when third at Market Rasen recently and now heads back up in trip fitted with a first-time tongue tie. Northern Poet has gone well fresh previously, so he completes the shortlist.