Betfred 'The Classic Bookmaker' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:36 | Winning time: 5m 5.77s

Grain D'oudairies^t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 126

6/1

Resumed with 17f win at Kelso and not discredited under more patient tactics when fifth of 7 in handicap chase at Doncaster (19.1f, good to soft) 32 days ago. Shortlisted.

Form: F634-15

Ned Tanner^t,p²⁴

4/1

Took this 12 months ago and not disgraced when third of 6 in handicap chase at Aintree (19.9f, good to soft) 24 days ago. Since had a wind op so can't be discounted from an easing mark.

Form: 2214-73

Bois Guillbert^p1⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: P W Wadge| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 119

22/1

Made a winning start over fences at Newcastle in February but returned with a below-par fifth of 7 to Grain d'Oudairies in handicap chase at Kelso (17.1f, good to soft) 52 days ago. Cheekpieces are reached for now.

Form: P6156-5

Taras Halls^b³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Callum Bewley| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 118| D

5/2

Blinkered for first time when scoring at Newcastle in November but pulled up in handicap chase at Doncaster (19.1f, good to soft) 32 days ago. Not proving the easiest to catch right.

Form: 16P-P1P

Bowenspark²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly| OR: 117

2/1

Ungenuine type but he posted a good second of 6 on just his second run in this sphere in handicap chase at Southwell (20.4f, good to soft) 28 days ago. Player if backing that up.

Form: 0662-P2

Kahavari³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 111

15/2

A fair ex-French 2m3f hurdle winner who was shaping really well on his fencing bow when unseated 3 out at Bangor in November. Beat just one there since though so has a bit to prove.

Form: 22U2-U6

Non-Runners

Lac De Constance³⁴

Weight: 12-0| Age: 9

T: D Skelton J: Liam Harrison

Epinephrine⁴⁰

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: Miss V Williams J: Charlie Deutsch

Forecasts

Bowenspark (2/1), Taras Halls (5/2), Ned Tanner (4/1), Grain D'oudairies (6/1), Kahavari (15/2), Lac De Constance (10/1), Epinephrine (10/1), Bois Guillbert (22/1)

A few of these arrive with a question mark against them so this looks a good opportunity for Dan Skelton's LAC DE CONSTANCE to take another step forward and capitalise on a lenient mark back over fences. Last year's victor Ned Tanner could emerge as the chief threat if recent wind surgery has a positive effect, while Grain d'Oudairies and Bowenspark also need factoring in.