Fitzdares Fleur De Lys Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 44.39s

Handstands⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 154WS

7/2

Developed into a smart performer over fences last term, winning all 3 completed starts, including Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown. Failed to land odds on return and then possibly found 25.6f too much of a test in the Betfair Chase. Concedes weight all round on the back of a breathing operation.

Form: 111P-24

Matata¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Slevin| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 160| C

3/1

Headstrong sort but developed into a very smart chaser last season, winning a brace of 2m handicaps, including at this venue. Ridden with more restraint when off the mark for the season in a valuable contest at Cheltenham (20.6f) and those tactics will have to be employed over this trip.

Form: 33-7331

Resplendent Grey^p⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 152

15/2

Ended last season with a win in bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown and backed that up with a reappearance success over Handstands in 2½m Carlisle listed chase. Wasn't at his best in another major handicap at Newbury last time, though he was on the back foot throughout.

Form: 2441-10

Eldorado Allen^t,p³⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 146| BF

33/1

Veteran but still a smart sort, ending a long losing run with a bold display from the front at Cheltenham on return over 20.2f. Shaped as if still in form when third there 5 weeks ago but dominating this calibre of rival no easy task.

Form: 4705-13

Protektorat^t⁶³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 165| BF| CDWS

1/1

High-class chaser who won the 2024 Ryanair and also took this last year. Runner-up in Melling Chase (2½m) at Aintree in April and gave an extremely good account from the front under a big weight when third on November's reappearance. Very much one to beat on the back of a wind op.

Form: 62142-3

Non-Runners

Jungle Boogie¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 12

T: Miss V Williams J: Charlie Deutsch

Forecasts

Protektorat (1/1), Matata (3/1), Handstands (7/2), Resplendent Grey (15/2), Jungle Boogie (25/1), Eldorado Allen (33/1)

A good-quality contest but from these advantageous terms, it's hard to get away from last year's winner PROTEKTORAT on the back of an excellent reappearance from a lofty mark at Cheltenham in November. Conversely, Handstands must concede weight all round but he's the up-and-comer against established sorts, while Matata will have to be patiently ridden to see this out but he arrives in top form.