Virgin Bet Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:30 | Winning time: 6m 44.2s

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Selected odds by:

Faustinovick^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 122| BF

7/4

Fairly useful maiden over hurdles and improved efforts in this sphere when runner-up last 3 starts. High on the shortlist.

Form: 6-44222

Darius Des Bois^p,t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: C Fryer| OR: 120| D

40/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser for Nicky Henderson earlier in career. Point winner last year but shaped as if amiss on his return to hurdling/Rules at Ascot 16 days ago.

Form: P2212-P

Optimistic Bias^p1⁶⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: H J Evans| OR: 116| C| D

8/1

Veteran chaser who got back on track after an absence when winning 3m handicap chase at Uttoxeter but let down by jumping at Market Rasen since. Headgear on.

Form: 072/U1P

Rizzardo¹⁰⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 115| BF| C

6/1

Back on song when making all in 20.5f handicap here in November. Poor effort later that month but has been given a break since.

Form: 12P-51P

Ecossais^t,v³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Ross Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 109| CD

7/4

Back to form with a bang for new yard when winning twice here this winter and creditable third off revised mark both starts since. Should give another good account.

Form: 561133

Overawed¹⁰⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 108| C| D

11/1

Improved last term, landing handicap chases at Uttoxeter and Ludlow. Good second at former track on return, but she was a well-held third at Chepstow last time. Off 108 days.

Form: 1125-23

Kayf Thou^b¹¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 104

33/1

Sole success for Gordon Elliott came back in 2019 and offered little on only start this term. Likely best watched on debut for new connections.

Form: 34383-P

Non-Runners

Ivilnoble⁵¹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 8

T: C J Mann J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Ecossais (7/4), Faustinovick (7/4), Rizzardo (6/1), Ivilnoble (13/2), Optimistic Bias (8/1), Overawed (11/1), Kayf Thou (33/1), Darius Des Bois (40/1)

RIZZARDO produced a good time when winning here in November and might have found his next run coming too soon. He's taken to resume winning ways refreshed by a break. Faustinovick has been holding his form well this season and can fill the runner-up spot again, while Ecossais has already won twice here this term and should give another good account.