Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase (Grade 2 Limited Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 3m 45.93s

Saint Segal^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: C Gethings| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 155| D

9/2

This 7-y-o arrives here at the top of his game having won 3 of his last 4 at up to 19.4f, showcasing his versatility ground-wise in the process. Defeat on penultimate start at Exeter came at the hands of the re-opposing Thistle Ask, though, and that progressive rival may again prove too strong.

Form: 331-121

Boothill^t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 149| CD

18/1

Winner of the Wayward Lad on this card in 2022 and bagged a couple of significant Ascot handicaps the following season. However, he's prone to mistakes over fences (has failed to complete in the last 2 renewals of this) and has failed to fire both starts since returning to action last month.

Form: 4/2F4-P5

Thistle Ask^h,t⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 146| D

15/8

Dual winner for James Ewart and highly progressive for new yard this season, making it 3-3 for the Skelton team with a decisive seven-length beating of Saint Segal in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter (17.5f, soft). Has predictably rocketed up the weights, but further progress may well be forthcoming.

Form: 1/21-111

Sans Bruit^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 139| D

12/1

Front-runner who ended last term on the up with back-to-back 2m handicap wins in April, including the valuable Red Rum at Aintree, a race he also won in 2023. On the downside, he's yet to fire this season and it appears that he is at his best during the spring and on left-handed tracks.

Form: 411-665

Ryan's Rocket²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 135| CD

7/4

Irish point/hurdles winner who made the perfect start in this sphere at Chepstow last November. Back on the up when picking off the pace-forcers on the run-in at Newbury (16.4f, good to soft) last month and, likely to come on for that seasonal reappearance, he's a key player despite going up 6 lb.

Form: 4126U-1

Gabriel's Getaway^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 132| D

11/1

Ended last term on a downer but has resumed in the good order this season, finishing second in handicaps here and at Ascot. Another creditable effort when fourth in a valuable race at the latter course (16.8f, soft) last time and should make his presence felt once more.

Form: 1/5P-224

Calgary Tiger⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: James Best| T: W De Best-Turner| OR: 103| D

150/1

Free-going front runner who was beating a retreat when departing at the final fence on his reappearance at Cheltenham last month. Faces a mountainous task from a miles out of the handicap here.

Form: 9/2533-F

Forecasts

Ryan's Rocket (7/4), Thistle Ask (15/8), Saint Segal (9/2), Gabriel's Getaway (11/1), Sans Bruit (12/1), Boothill (18/1), Calgary Tiger (150/1)

THISTLE ASK will face competition for the lead, but he didn't have too much trouble mastering one of the other confirmed front-runners in this line-up, Saint Segal, when making it 3-3 for the Dan Skelton yard in a notable Exeter handicap last time. The other candidate for pace-setting duty is Sans Bruit, who has yet to fire this season, and it could be that Thistle Ark will again dominate from start to finish. Ryan's Rocket did the job well on return at Newbury and may emerge as the main danger.