bet365 Cyril Alexander Memorial Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:39 | Winning time: 5m 32.79s

Menaggio⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 132| D

17/2

Fair winning hurdler who has improved for switch to larger obstacles, bagging pair of small-field 19.7f handicaps at Plumpton back in the autumn. Reportedly bled when pulled up at Newbury in December but building a solid profile prior to that, so likely to bounce back.

Form: 13-211P

Leader In The Park⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 129

10/11

Successful over hurdles but every inch a chaser on looks and left his reappearance in his wake when winning 8-runner novices' handicap chase at Kempton (20.5f) on Boxing Day, Value for extra when following up at Warwick (20f) 6 weeks ago and he's shortlisted with further progress anticipated.

Form: 614-511

Hashtag Boum³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 125| BF| C

7/1

Successful twice over hurdles and has already shown herself to be more of a force in this sphere, gaining a second chase victory at Ayr (20.5f) 2 starts back. Far from discredited when third in 4-runner contest back there 39 days ago and eased a little in weights ahead of this.

Form: 48-1213

Walk On Quest^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 120| C

11/4

Promise on 2 of his 4 starts over hurdles and much-improved switched to larger obstacles, bringing up the hat-trick with bags to spare in 7-runner handicap chase at Ayr (20.5f, soft) 18 days ago. Up 10 lb on back of that but expected to take some stopping in bid to land 4-timer.

Form: 5-42111

Step Out^t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 118| D

9/1

Off the mark over hurdles at Downpatrick in August and has bettered that form in his 2 completed starts over fences, third in novice at Down Royal (16.5f, good to soft) 39 days ago. Still room for improvement in his jumping and he'll find easier openings than this.

Form: 1252U3

Forecasts

Leader In The Park (10/11), Walk On Quest (11/4), Hashtag Boum (7/1), Menaggio (17/2), Step Out (9/1)

LEADER IN THE PARK was value for more than the bare margin implies when taking his chase record to 2-3 at Warwick 6 weeks ago and, with further progress in the offing, he gets the nod to complete the hat-trick with his trainer/jockey combination continuing in scintillating form. Walk On Quest is similarly most progressive and comfortably rates the chief threat in search of the 4-timer. Menaggio may do best of the other trio.