Book William Hill Christmas Meeting Online Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 4 | 3m 45y | 9 Runners | Turf

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Charlie Case⁽⁷⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 110| C| D

Recorded a first success since 2022 when making a winning return in an uninspiring 5-runner contest at Uttoxeter prior to following up in a weak veterans' chase at Huntingdon last month. More required to land the hat-trick.

Form: P43-511

Visual Impact³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: D R Fox| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 110| BF

£100,000 purchase having finished runner-up in sole Irish point. Showed plenty as a novice hurdler and advanced her form on chase debut when third at Ayr (20.5f, soft) last month. Very much a chaser on looks and should improve stepping back up in distance. Leading contender.

Form: 4/3222-3

Gold Emery²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 108| D

Point/hurdles winner who has shown fair form over fences without winning. Encouraging return when third in a 4-runner chase at Uttoxeter (26f, heavy) last month, travelled well and jumped better than has often been the case. Claims if he can build on that.

Form: P23/72-3

Moonlight Flit^b1²⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: Fiona Needham| OR: 107| D

Best effort for Nicky Henderson when runner-up in Warwick novice on his hurdle debut in 2021 but left the yard for £11,000 the following year having lost form. Won twice in points for current yard but last of 4 finishers most recently (Mar 2025). Bit to prove making chase debut back under Rules.

Form: 711/PP4-

The Scorpion King^p²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: David Bass| T: O Signy| OR: 107| D

Winner of back-to-back chases at Ffos Las (heavy) last winter. Creditable reappearance over hurdles on return to Ffos Las last month and he should go well back chasing with that run under his belt, especially if the ground becomes testing.

Form: 4/211P-4

Pachacuti^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: D Pipe| OR: 104

Hit-and-miss since recording latest success back in February 2024 but has slipped to an attractive mark as a result and took a step back in the right direction when third in a 9-runner chase at Ffos Las last month. Player if he can back that up with tongue tie again left off.

Form: PP20-P3

Express Surprise^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: C Boultbee-Brooks| OR: 96| BF| D

Continued his progression when scoring on chase debut at Huntingdon (23.6f, heavy) in January. Has been hindered by his jumping on better ground since, for all he shaped second best on reappearance at Lingfield (23.5f, good) last time. Could be interesting back on a softer surface.

Form: 53143-3

One Last Glance^t,p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: T R Gretton| OR: 93

Won twice on soft/heavy last season and bled when runner-up on final start last season. In the process of running creditably on second start of the campaign when unseating at Plumpton (25.7f, good) 19 days ago. May travel more fluently with conditions in his favour here and isn't totally dismissed.

Form: 2142-6U

Ballylinch^t,p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Callum Bewley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 88| D

Two-time winner over fences during 2023/24 but has shown little short-term promise in two starts following an 18-month lay-off. Questions to answer now.

Form: 541/2-45

Forecasts

Fern Hill (9/4), Visual Impact (9/2), One Last Glance (6/1), Express Surprise (7/1), The Scorpion King (8/1), Pachacuti (8/1), Gold Emery (10/1), Ballylinch (16/1), Moonlight Flit (16/1)

A one-time expensive point purchase, VISUAL IMPACT finished an eye-catching third on chase debut and should improve stepping back up in trip on second start over fences. She's preferred to The Scorpion King and Express Surprise, who both made pleasing comebacks last month and will be well-suited by the likely soft conditions.