KEP Communications Handicap Chase

4YO plus | Class 5 | 3m 1f 210y | 6 Runners | Turf

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Reed| T: Nick Scholfield| OR: 92| D

Quirky sort who won handicap chases at Newton Abbot and Worcester in the summer but hasn't been anywhere near as good on his last 2 outings. Down 4 lb as a result but remains an unreliable betting prospect.

Form: P31163

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Gata Ban^p¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Dylan Johnston| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 91| CD

Enjoyed a fruitful summer winning a 23f handicap chase at Worcester and over C&D. Easy to back when posting respectable effort on return from 11-week break back at Worcester last time but should be sharper for that outing and this represents a notable drop in class. Bold bid expected.

Form: 34-2114

Unspeakable^t⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 78WS

Narrow winner at Hereford (25f) in October. Has proven more miss than hit since but has undergone a breathing operation since last seen in June and returns here from a mark 3 lb below his last winning one. Interesting, especially if the market speaks in his favour.

Form: 6276-46

The Kings Soldier^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Oscar Palmer⁽⁷⁾| T: Tracey Leeson| OR: 71

Maiden hurdler who hasn't cut much ice in a pair of starts over fences, though this does at least represent a rare opportunity for him to race from inside the handicap. Tongue strap back on.

Form: 4-63355

Frankie Faulkner^p⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Mrs C Williams| OR: 71

Maiden chaser who is potentially well handicapped on the pick of his efforts but has been operating below his best for some time and needs the reapplication of cheekpieces in place of the visor worn last time to spark a revival.

Form: 2237-73

Of Corse I Can^p⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Bradley Harris⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 69| CD

Back-to-back winner over C&D and Newton Abbot in October last year. Has fallen below those winning marks now but hasn't been seeing his races out with much conviction of late. Comes with risks attached.

Form: 456-554

Forecasts

Gata Ban (11/10), Of Corse I Can (6/1), Frankie Faulkner (6/1), Unspeakable (6/1), Edgewell (13/2), The Kings Soldier (10/1)

GATA BAN won over this C&D in June and ran respectably in a stronger race at Worcester last time, so she is entitled to come on for that recent effort and makes plenty of appeal in a race in which most of her rivals have question marks over them. Unspeakable has had a breathing operation and is 3 lb below his last winning mark, so must be respected, while Of Corse I Can won over this C&D in October from a higher mark but needs to bounce back from some below-par efforts.