Weatherbys & Birdie Calendars Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 6m 36.42s

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Selected odds by:

Lunar Contact^p,t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁷⁾| T: T Ellis| OR: 95| CD

6/4

Fair hurdles form for Alan King in 2022/23. Twice a winner between the flags and left low-key chase debut well behind when scoring at the second attempt in this sphere over C&D (good) last month. 4 lb rise fair enough and he should have more to offer over fences.

Form: 1-2F641

Samourai One^p²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Ben Bromley| T: L Wadham| OR: 94| D

4/1

Left his hurdling exploits behind when scoring easily on his Market Rasen chase debut in February. That was decent form (had 3 next-time winners in behind) and, having failed to fire on his next 2 starts, he got back on track when third of 8 at Fontwell (26f, soft) last time. Needs considering.

Form: 541PP-3

Dindin^b,t¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁶⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 93

9/1

Successful at Worcester in summer 2023 and runner-up on 3 occasions after. Decent comeback third at Newton Abbot in August and while it would be fair to say that he hasn't built on that since, his latest fourth of 10 at Chepstow (23.6f, good to soft) wasn't a bad effort and he's on a good mark.

Form: 25-3854

Awesome Foursome^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: James Turner⁽⁶⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 91

4/1

Bumper/hurdles winner who again ran creditably when runner-up at Ludlow in May. Not in same form next 2 starts, including when 6¾ lengths fourth to Lunar Contact on C&D chase debut last month. However, eased 2 lb since and he's entitled to come on for that run.

Form: 233-254

Kadex^p³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Jamie Brace⁽³⁾| T: A E Jones| OR: 90

10/1

It was a poor race in which he opened his chase account at Plumpton last October and now finds himself with plenty to prove having failed to complete on each of his last 6 starts, including on debut for this yard at Ffos Las last month.

Form: PPPF-PP

Firefly Lane^t⁷¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Freddie Gingell| T: J D Frost| OR: 79| D

10/1

Winning pointer who was runner-up in back-to-back mares' handicap chases during the spring. Below par at Newton Abbot (21f, good to soft) in June but firmly back on track when opening her account over the same C&D (soft) last time. 3 lb rise should be manageable and she enters calculations.

Form: P422-71

Go Fox²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Daire James McConville⁽⁵⁾| T: N B King| OR: 72| C

22/1

Won twice over fences in summer 2023 and runner-up twice here (hurdles and fences at around 2m) last winter. Largely downhill since, though, and this step back up in trip is of dubious benefit (well held both previous attempts over trips beyond 21f).

Form: 25-3657

Forecasts

Lunar Contact (6/4), Samourai One (4/1), Awesome Foursome (4/1), Dindin (9/1), Firefly Lane (10/1), Kadex (10/1), Go Fox (22/1)

LUNAR CONTACT was seen to good effect under a change of tactics when making all on his second run over fences in a C&D handicap last time. With the promise of better to come, he looks capable of following up off this 4 lb higher mark. Awesome Foursome enjoys a 6 lb pull with the selection having finished 6¾ lengths adrift in fourth that day and is entitled to finish closer this time. Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge rates the main danger ahead of Samourai One and Dindin.