Avonside Supplies & Etex Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 6m 42.73s

Popova²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Reed| T: M Hawker| OR: 123

66/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser for Henry de Bromhead in Ireland. Never dangerous on her yard debut when fifth of 6 in 2m4f Kempton handicap chase 29 days ago. Needs to take a big step forward.

Form: 456-235

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Sole Solution³¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 119

2/1

Ended last term in fine form over hurdles with a career-best win at Sandown (19.8f, heavy). Off 10 months but still commands lots of respect now going chasing.

Form: 11/6211-

Autonomous Cloud^p,t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Harry O'Dwyer⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118| CD

8/1

C&D winner who wasn't disgraced after nearly 6 months off when eighth of 16 in handicap chase at Cheltenham (25f, soft) 24 days ago. This is easier and he can't be dismissed off a 2 lb lower mark.

Form: 328-618

Madaket^p¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Callum Pritchard⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 116

8/1

A fairly useful winner at 25f over hurdles. Yet to score in this sphere though and he came in last of 5 in handicap chase at Exeter (24.2f, soft) 16 days ago. Handily weighted though if back on his A-game.

Form: 3P36-35

Bells Of Peterboro⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 115| D

6/1

Largely below par last season and he returned with a below-form seventh of 13 in handicap chase at Ffos Las (25.3f, good to soft) 42 days ago. Others appeal more.

Form: 36P25-7

Ski Lodge²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 115| D

15/8

Progressive type over hurdles, scoring at Haydock last December before returning from almost a year off to post an excellent second of 5 in 2m3f Lingfield handicap hurdle last month. Runner-up in a point too and he rates an interesting fencing debutant.

Form: 221/71-2

Itseemslikeit²⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 113WS

10/1

Made a winning hurdling debut at Ffos Las in 2023 but lightly raced and below that level since, only sixth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Newbury (24.2f, soft) 9 months ago. Has something to prove starting out over fences here.

Form: 3417/P6-

Forecasts

Ski Lodge (15/8), Sole Solution (2/1), Bells Of Peterboro (6/1), Madaket (8/1), Autonomous Cloud (8/1), Itseemslikeit (10/1), Popova (66/1)

Not the easiest race to assess and it could pay to side with Alan King's improving hurdler SKI LODGE to make a winning start in this sphere. Fellow chasing newcomer Sole Solution could prove the pick of the rest, although both Autonomous Cloud and Madaket can figure too if bringing their A-games to the table.