Betfred 'Bet Builder' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 5m 27.20s

Idalko Bihoue⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 130| BF| D

85/40

Lightly raced since opening his account over fences at Cheltenham (19.7f) 14 months ago and hindered by jumping errors when well-held eighth on return in Grand Sefton at Aintree (21f) in November. This is a less demanding assignment.

Form: 5/F165-8

Classic Maestro⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 129| C

7/4

All the better for his comeback effort when landing brace of handicap hurdles at Wetherby/Bangor. Completed simple task when seeing off his sole rival in beginners' chase here (16.3f) 9 days ago (jumped soundly) and there's more to come in this sphere.

Form: 21-5111

Happy And Fine^p²⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 127| CD

6/1

Likeable sort who recorded back-to-back chase victories last winter, including this race from 4 lb lower. Failed to complete next 2 starts before a below-par run at Uttoxeter when last seen in April but he has gone well fresh previously.

Form: 311PF3-

The Flier Begley¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Hogan⁽³⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 120| D

28/1

A fairly useful chase winner for Stuart Crawford in Ireland and returned to his best for current yard when scoring at Warwick and Carlisle in October. Pulled up next time and whilst he did too much too soon when third at Uttoxeter latest, his present mark is probably about right.

Form: 6311P3

If Not For Dylan⁶¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 117| D

22/1

Multiple winner in this sphere for Andrew Hamilton, running right up to his best when landing 13-runner handicap chase at Perth (30.5f) in spring 2023. Starts out for new yard following a 20-month layoff and the betting may prove a useful guide as to expectations.

Form: 451271/

Trac^p⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 113| D

22/1

Built up a very healthy strike rate for this stable, career-best effort when winning 10-runner handicap chase at Carlisle (2m, heavy) in April. Last month's Kelso reappearance ought to have blown the cobwebs away and better showing anticipated with usual cheekpieces back on.

Form: 14411-6

Ned Tanner^p1,t1²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N W Alexander| OR: 112| D

7/2

Dual chase winner at Kelso as a novice. Progress stalled last season and having shaped with encouragement on return at that venue in November, wasn't so good when fifth of 12 in handicap chase at Carlisle 4 weeks ago. Cheekpieces/tongue tie reached for now.

Form: 3F32-45

Forecasts

Classic Maestro (7/4), Idalko Bihoue (85/40), Ned Tanner (7/2), Happy And Fine (6/1), If Not For Dylan (22/1), Trac (22/1), The Flier Begley (28/1)

Prolific scorer CLASSIC MAESTRO impressed with the accuracy of his jumping when landing a match over fences here 9 days ago and appealing as the type to go on returned to handicapping in this sphere, he looks to hold sound claims again. Idalko Bihoue and last year's winner Happy And Fine may emerge as the chief threats.