Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:27 | Winning time: 6m 3.77s

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Zoffalee^t⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 107

50/1

Runner-up 4 times this season but wasn't at his best when a well-held fourth at Southwell last time, finding less than looked likely. Others are preferred for win purposes again.

Form: 222424

Mance Rayder^b²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Danny McMenamin| T: H Hogarth| OR: 107

25/1

Successful in handicap chase at Kelso (29f) on first start last season but ended the campaign with a pair of below-par efforts and not at best in 2 comeback runs this autumn. Probably best watched.

Form: U266-56

Return Fire^t⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: P W Wadge⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 102

4/5

Left chase debut behind when a ready winner of a conditional jockeys' event at Hexham (3m) last Friday under this rider. Escapes a penalty so should take a bit of stopping if this doesn't come too soon.

Form: 3938-31

Larry Looby^p²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 101

18/1

Fifth win of a tremendous season when holding on gamely at Sedgefield (27f) last month. Further 4 lb rise demands more but he certainly knows where the winning post is.

Form: 111161

Rapid Raider^p1⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 100

8/1

Landed another win when seeing off 3 rivals at Kelso in May and returned from a break to finish a creditable second at Perth (3m) in September. Return Fire would appear to be the stable first string, though.

Form: 6224-12

Cracking Find²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Ross Chapman| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 99| C

11/1

Course scorer who was sharper for his reappearance when 9 lengths third at Carlisle 3 weeks ago but will need to step up again if he's to resume winning ways here.

Form: U637-43

Matchmaking¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: B S Hughes| T: L Morgan| OR: 87

11/4

One-time fairly useful Flat winner who landed back-to-back handicap hurdles for Caroline Bailey in the first half of the year. Encouraging start to his chase career for new stable when length second at Kelso (3m) 19 days ago. Open to improvement.

Form: 841-192

Forecasts

Return Fire (4/5), Matchmaking (11/4), Rapid Raider (8/1), Cracking Find (11/1), Larry Looby (18/1), Mance Rayder (25/1), Zoffalee (50/1)

RETURN FIRE races off the same mark as when scoring fairly comfortably at Hexham last week so he'll take a bit of stopping if in similar form. Matchmaking made a bright start to his chase career when second at Kelso and is the one likely to give Lucinda Russell's charge most to do.