Tanners Claret Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 6m 9.57s

Neon Moon^b,t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 135| CD

10/3

Not the most reliable but advanced his form on the back of wind surgery when landing 11-runner handicap chase at Chepstow in October. Ran to a similar level from a 4 lb higher mark when third at Ascot next time but found the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle (23.4f, good) too tough since.

Form: 51-3136

Found On⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: James Best| T: M Keighley| OR: 134| D

33/1

Has been a good servant but ended last season with 2 poor efforts after 4 months off and fared no better tried at a much longer trip on return at Wincanton (26.7f, good) in October.

Form: P/12PP-P

Tightenourbelts⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Rex Dingle| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 132| C| D

13/8

Failed to kick on over fences last season but, after an encouraging enough return over hurdles at Chepstow in October, doubled his tally over the larger obstacles partnered by Cobden for the first time at Exeter (24.2f, good) just under 6 weeks ago, jumping really well. Major player up 3 lb.

Form: P46-361

Undersupervision^v1³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 130| D

14/1

Unreliable type who was pulled up for the fifth time in his last 6 starts on return at Cheltenham last month. More severe headgear enlisted, but he looks an easy swerve.

Form: P/P3PP-P

Christopher Wood²⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 121

10/3

Useful winning hurdler but not quite as good in this sphere. Ended last season in a bit of a lull, never seeming to be going very well at Uttoxeter (24f, heavy) in March (in cheekpieces), but returns with the yard in rude health and the handicapper has dropped him 4 lb.

Form: 24/3395-

Balkardy³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 113| D

5/1

Made light of a six-month lay-off when landing 5-runner handicap chase at Stratford (22.6f, good to soft) in October and produced a respectable effort attempting to follow up back over hurdles when fifth at Ffos Las (23.9f, good to soft) just over 5 weeks ago. Each-way claims reverted to fences.

Form: 159P-15

Non-Runners

Deise Aba³²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 11

T: Alexandra Dunn J: K Brogan

Forecasts

Tightenourbelts (13/8), Neon Moon (10/3), Christopher Wood (10/3), Balkardy (5/1), Deise Aba (7/1), Undersupervision (14/1), Found On (33/1)

TIGHTENOURBELTS jumped with aplomb when doubling his tally over fences at Exeter last month and, having been nudged up just 3 lb, Emma Lavelle's 7-y-o is fancied to go in again. The main threat may emerge from Neon Moon, who found the Rehearsal Chase too much at Newcastle recently but drops appreciably in grade here. The returning Christopher Wood can edge out Balkardy for third.