Ready To Welcome The New Year Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 4m 7.07s

Jaitroplaclasse^t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 100| D

11/4

Resumed winning ways at Newton Abbot in September but only seventh of 8 in handicap chase at Wincanton (15.7f, good) 36 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 2451F7

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Dixie Cowboy¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: S England| OR: 93| BF| CD

5/2

Made a winning chasing debut over C&D in November and he backed it up with a good second of 8 in handicap chase at Hexham (15.6f, heavy) 16 days ago. Ought to be thereabouts off the same mark.

Form: 52/6-912

Take Centre Stage^b1²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| OR: 90| D

13/2

On a losing run and he came in a below-par fifth of 8 in handicap chase at Southwell (15.8f, good to soft 24 days ago. Much more is needed in a change of headgear here (blinkers fitted for the first time).

Form: 5/65F-35

Restandbethankful^p,t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 84| C| D

14/1

Course winner but it's now 15 runs since his last win in 2024 and he was pulled up in handicap chase at Musselburgh (20.3f, good to soft) 28 days ago. Irresolute performer.

Form: 64604P

Huit Reflets^v²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Theo Gillard| T: M Walford| OR: 83| BF| D

3/1

Back to winning ways over hurdles at Kelso in September and he has continued in good nick over fences, second of 7 in handicap chase here (21.1f, soft) 21 days ago. Merits serious consideration nudged up 1 lb in his bid for a first chasing victory.

Form: 482132

Zara's Universe^p²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Joe Williamson⁽³⁾| T: A Crook| OR: 74| C| D

17/2

Course winner who got back on track when second of 8 in handicap chase at Southwell (15.8f, good to soft) 24 days ago. Needs considering despite a 2 lb rise.

Form: P2P6-62

Blended Stealth^b¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Joshua Thompson⁽⁷⁾| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 73| D

22/1

Unreliable sort who trailed in a remote fifth of 8 in handicap chase at Hexham (15.6f, heavy) 16 days ago. Has only one win from 45 runs.

Form: 9652F5

Forecasts

Dixie Cowboy (5/2), Jaitroplaclasse (11/4), Huit Reflets (3/1), Take Centre Stage (13/2), Zara's Universe (17/2), Restandbethankful (14/1), Blended Stealth (22/1)

A tight-knit handicap in which marginal preference is for HUIT REFLETS who arrives at the top of his game and can now add a chasing victory to his two previous hurdling successes. Dixie Cowboy has made a positive start to life over fences and this C&D scorer seems sure to be on the premises, while Zara's Universe and Jaitropaclasse also need factoring in.