eventmasters.co.uk Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:06 | Winning time: 4m 13.3s

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Selected odds by:

Captain Ivan^h,t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Patrick Cowley⁽³⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 117| CD

16/5

Has won 3 of his last 4 starts, following up his Southwell success with another victory at Perth (16f, good) 26 days ago. Suited by the way race panned out there but 2 lb rise doesn't handicap him out of things.

Form: 6413-11

Dr T J Eckleburg¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 117| D

14/1

Fairly useful hurdler made the frame on his first 3 starts last season but has finished well beaten on his last 2 outings, including on debut for this yard at Cartmel earlier in the month. Needs to bounce back on chase debut.

Form: 8/2438-0

Elios D'Or^b²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 116| CD

15/2

Won at Stratford last month but turned in a lacklustre display over C&D (good to soft) 22 days ago. Needs reapplication of blinkers to spark a revival.

Form: 1-34144

Trapista⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 114

11/4

Proved consistent rather than progressive over fences last season. Not seen to best effect in a steadily-run handicap hurdle at Aintree (20f, good) 62 days ago and would hold frame claims back chasing.

Form: 35335-4

Vinnie The Hoddie²⁷⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: David Noonan| T: Miss G Haywood| OR: 113| D

40/1

Error-prone sort won at Newton Abbot (2m) last March but struggled to make much of an impression in 3 subsequent starts last year and others make more appeal after 9 months off.

Form: 4P1/357-

Gold Link⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 113WS

9/4

Missed the best part of 2 years before retuning at Uttoxeter in May but seemingly retains all ability, looking in control at the last before emptying quickly when fourth of 5 in handicap chase at Cartmel (17.3f, good) on debut over fences 54 days ago. Worth another chance.

Form: 8222/24

Lucky Lover Boy^p,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Craig Nichol| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 104| D

9/1

In fine form when in 2022, scoring 4 times and posting an excellent second in 2m Newcastle handicap. Shaped as if better for the run on return when fifth of 9 in handicap hurdle at this course (16f, good) 29 days ago and he's not ruled out making chase debut.

Form: 11212-5

Non-Runners

Benefit Run¹⁰

Weight: 11-13| Age: 11

T: R O'Sullivan J: B S Hughes

Forecasts

Gold Link (9/4), Trapista (11/4), Captain Ivan (16/5), Benefit Run (7/1), Elios D'Or (15/2), Lucky Lover Boy (9/1), Dr T J Eckleburg (14/1), Vinnie The Hoddie (40/1)

GOLD LINK looked to have the race sewn up before weakening on chase debut at Cartmel but he perhaps made his effort earlier than ideal there and the bulk of the performance was positive, so he is taken to make his second start over fences a winning one. Captain Ivan had plenty go his way at Perth but is thriving and should give a bold bid for the hat-trick, whilst Irish raider Benefit Run is interesting after a recent good effort over hurdles.