William Hill Offers Top Price Guarantees Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:29 | Winning time: 5m 13.95s

Samazul^b1²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 100

12/1

Bumper winner who failed to score over hurdles but has the build for chasing and duly improved when opening account on return/debut over fences at Fontwell. Couple of heavy defeats since raise concerns and he's now fitted with blinkers.

Form: 537-164

Hawkseye View²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 94

2/1

Point winner who improved when finishing second on third run over fences in a 9-runner Newcastle handicap (2½m, good) last month. May well have won granted a better jump at the final fence that day and this 5-y-o will have every chance if able to back that up here.

Form: 405-762

Celestial Fashion^h¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ryan Mania| T: I A Duncan| OR: 90| D

5/1

Opened her account in 17f conditionals handicap at Newcastle in March and caused a 28/1 surprise after 6 months off in 13-runner handicap at Ayr (19.5f, good to soft) in October. Switched to fences and continued the good work when runner-up at Hexham. Step back up in trip will suit.

Form: 215-712

Empty Nest^t1³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 83

9/2

Remains a maiden and merely closed up late over 21.1f at Sedgefield a month ago. Tongue strap on for first time.

Form: 33-PP46

Fiadh^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 83| CD

4/1

Modest 3m hurdles winner but has the size for chasing and made second start over the larger obstacles a winning one over C&D 3 weeks ago. Can be a factor again.

Form: 9-02641

Elusive Shine²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 91

7/1

Made frame all 3 starts in Irish points and more like it when third in a novice hurdle at Market Rasen a month ago. Potential improver now handicapping over fences.

Form: 44-2953

Bravethewaves^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: J M Quinlan| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 78

20/1

Disappointing maiden over hurdles so hopes rest on switch to fences.

Form: 430/999

Forecasts

Hawkseye View (2/1), Fiadh (4/1), Empty Nest (9/2), Celestial Fashion (5/1), Elusive Shine (7/1), Samazul (12/1), Bravethewaves (20/1)

HAWKSEYE VIEW may well have opened his account without a final-fence mistake at Newcastle a month ago and with that in mind, a 2 lb rise looks very fair. Celestial Fashion and Fiadh also arrive in form, while Elusive Shine warrants a market check on chase/handicap debut.