Bev, Margaret & Iris Bond Memorial Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 6m 47.20s

Itseemslikeit¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: D Pipe| OR: 127| D

4/1

Lightly raced over hurdles but landed 3m handicaps at Uttoxeter and Ffos Las on his first two runs over fences this winter. Pulled up in handicap chase at Newbury (23.4f, soft) 13 days ago, not jumping so well as usual. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 7/P6-11P

Laganhill^p1³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly| OR: 125

13/8

A dual 2m winner as novice hurdler last season. Made a positive start to his chase career when a clear second at Bangor (3m) in November but a below-par seventh of 11 in handicap chase at Ascot (23.8f, soft) 34 days ago. Cheekpieces are reached for now.

Form: 173-427

Mountain Mike³⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Luke Scott⁽³⁾| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 122

7/2

Quickly made up into a fairly useful hurdler in 2024/25, easily landing the odds in 10-runner novice at Ffos Las (21.9f, heavy) last February. Goes chasing on his comeback run and can't be discounted with his yard going well.

Form: 3/221-

Kalhandrion^p1¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 108| BF

9/4

Has improved for the switch to chasing this term, scoring on his debut at Huntingdon (19.9f) and looking the likely winner (in front) when unseated rider 4 out in handicap chase at Doncaster (24f, heavy) 15 days ago. Big shout off an unchanged mark with cheekpieces added.

Form: 58-132U

Forecasts

Laganhill (13/8), Kalhandrion (9/4), Mountain Mike (7/2), Itseemslikeit (4/1)

None of these can be ruled out but KALHANDRION seemed on course for a second chasing success of the season at Doncaster last time until departing four out and can make amends here off an unchanged mark. Fencing newcomer Mountain Mike has an absence to overcome but hails from an in-form yard so could emerge as the chief threat ahead of Itseemslikeit and Laganhill.