April 25th With Denise Van Outen Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 4m 18.61s

Denemethy^t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 122

6/4

Off the mark at third attempt over fences at Market Rasen on Boxing Day 2024 and largely consistent in defeat since, fourth of 11 in handicap chase at Sandown (15.4f) 24 days ago. This rates a much less demanding assignment and claims with conditions holding no fears.

Form: 222-424

Xcitations^p³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 120| CD

10/3

Veteran C&D winner who enhanced his already excellent Sandown record in first-time cheekpieces this time last year. Likely he needed first start for 11 months when pulled up at Uttoxeter (2m) 31 days ago and better can be expected with headgear back on from reduced mark.

Form: 53413-P

Cobbler's Boy^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Tristan Durrell| T: D Skelton| OR: 111| D

17/2

Cost £115,000 after finishing runner-up in an Irish point. Won maiden hurdle at Warwick last May but has struggled since, including in 2 chase tries since the turn of the year (jumped sketchily latest). A return to more positive tactics could see him in a better light.

Form: 82-1854

Rip Wheeler²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: R T Dunne| T: G & J Moore| OR: 105

15/8

Winning pointer from a family Moore stable knows well. Progressive over hurdles and continued in a similar vein when making it 2-2 over fences at Lingfield (2½m) in November. Has had excuses in 2 subsequent runs and the return to the minimum trip can help on ground this testing.

Form: 42-11P4

Forecasts

Denemethy (6/4), Rip Wheeler (15/8), Xcitations (10/3), Cobbler's Boy (17/2)

It's likely XCITATIONS needed his first run for 11 months at Uttoxeter 31 days ago and now operating 3 lb below his last winning mark with cheekpieces back on, it's feasible to expect a much better showing from Pam Sly's former C&D scorer. Bottom-weight Rip Wheeler heads up the dangers, ahead of class-dropping Denemethy.