15:55 Stratford

Sunday 18 May 2025

All14:2014:5015:2015:5516:2516:55

William Hill Proper Value Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:57 | Winning time: 4m 12.07s

Tactical Affair^p¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 99

6/4

Eleven runs since last win in 2023 but he posted a very good staying-on second of 8 in handicap chase at Worcester (16.5f, good to soft, 11/2) 12 days ago. Winner has gone in again since so big shout off an unchanged mark.

Form: 5444P-2

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Cawthorne Cracker^t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 88| C| D

7/2

Modest winner at 19f over hurdles. Off 5 months before an encouraging third of 7 to Royal Max in handicap chase at Sedgefield (16.4f, good) on his debut over fences 37 days ago. Merits consideration.

Form: 81F353-

Royal Max²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: C J Todd| T: C & A Pogson| OR: 79

11/4

Winner in chase at Sedgefield in April. Creditable third of 8 in handicap chase at Market Rasen (17.2f, good to firm, 7/2) 28 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: 333513-

Boom Boom³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: R T Dunne| T: B R Summers| OR: 78

20/1

Got off the mark in 2m maiden hurdle at Wincanton in April 2023 for Nicky Henderson but it's largely been a case of heavy defeats/non completions since switched to the larger obstacles.

Form: 635PFP-

Rory's Story^h,t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Harry Reed| T: T Davidson| OR: 76

5/1

Off 10 months before a fair third of 5 in handicap hurdle (11/2) at Kelso (16.2f, good) 11 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chasing and needs considering now.

Form: P4/636-3

Whyzzat^t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: James Best| T: S-J Davies| OR: 73

66/1

Last of 9 in handicap hurdle (50/1) at Uttoxeter (15.8f, good) 15 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chasing with work to do.

Form: 747/57-9

Mawlood^p,t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: G Howell| OR: 65

66/1

Twenty two runs since his last win in 2021 and only seventh of 8 in handicap chase at Warwick (20f, good, 125/1) 13 days ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 08086-7

Non-Runners

Culligran⁴⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: J G M O'Shea J: Kielan Woods

Forecasts

Tactical Affair (6/4), Royal Max (11/4), Cawthorne Cracker (7/2), Rory's Story (5/1), Culligran (6/1), Boom Boom (20/1), Mawlood (66/1), Whyzzat (66/1)

This can go the way of TACTICAL AFFAIR who races off the same mark as when a very good second at Worcester (form been franked) last time out. Cawthorne Cracker is feared most on the back of an encouraging chasing debut third at Sedgefield, although Rory's Story, Royal Max and Culligran all command respect too.