Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 4m 7.23s

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Selected odds by:

Martator^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 150| BF| C

8/1

Has developed into a smart handicap chaser, bringing up the 5-timer with plenty to spare at Ascot (16.7f) in November. Lesser efforts on last 2 starts, but no surprise to see him resume his progress with yard back amongst the winners.

Form: 11-1137

Gunsight Ridge^p,t⁵⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: G Sheehan| T: O Murphy| OR: 142| C

11/1

Reacted well to first-time cheekpieces when landing handicap at Perth in April. Might well have followed up when departing at the last at Cheltenham on return, though ran no sort of race at Kelso last time. Could fare better with headgear left off the last twice back on.

Form: F231-FP

Solo^t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142| C

13/2

Smart form as a novice in 2022/23, winning twice including Grade 2 at Kempton. Wasn't able to find any progress last season, but with reappearance run behind him there were better signs when fourth of 7 in handicap at Ascot (18.8f, soft) in December. More needed.

Form: P/226-04

Etalon¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135| CD

2/1

Rapid improver sent chasing last term, winning first 3 starts (including over C&D) before shaping better than result in Aintree Grade 1 on final outing. Yet to fire so far this season, but he's eased in the weights as a result and could bounce back at this venue.

Form: 17-595U

Classic Maestro³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Luke Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 130| BF

2/1

Back on the up when landing handicap hurdles at Wetherby/Bangor in December, before completing hat-trick when seeing off his sole rival in beginners' chase at Haydock. Good third back in a handicap at Haydock (19.9f, soft) last time, though this is tougher.

Form: 1-51113

Dr T J Eckleburg¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 119

8/1

Better than ever when scoring at Haydock in November and backed up that effort when second to a good prospect at Chepstow the following month. However, never a threat when third back at Haydock (16.3f, soft) 2 weeks ago and he's 5 lb out of the weights here.

Form: 34-3123

Forecasts

Etalon (2/1), Classic Maestro (2/1), Solo (13/2), Dr T J Eckleburg (8/1), Martator (8/1), Gunsight Ridge (11/1)

Having moved up the ranks in good style as a novice, ETALON looks to have been brought along gradually in the current campaign and he is now only 4 lb higher than for his impressive C&D success a year ago. He could be ready to return to winning ways, with Martator feared most given the progress he had shown when winning his first 2 starts this season, ahead of Gunsight Ridge.