'We think he's a nice horse' - analysis and trainer quotes for a competitive handicap that might be worth following

Eaton Collina: looking to complete a hat-trick after a breakCredit: Alan Crowhurst

This contest became a fairly significant formline last season. It produced six subsequent winners and even the favourite for a major handicap at the Aintree festival.

That horse was The King Of Ryhope, who impressed here for Dan Skelton on his chasing debut. An identical assignment now awaits Theformismighty for the same stable.

Plenty of handicap chases have been going the way of chasing debutants lately and Theformismighty looks the type to improve for fences. He failed to cut much ice over hurdles but is an expensive point-to-point winner who is at the right end of the handicap.

There are other chasing debutants to note and the Sam Thomas-trained Range is interesting on the form of his second to Gidleigh Park off level weights a year ago.

Thomas can ready a fencing newcomer first time up, as can Joe Tizzard, although his representative Gyenyame isn’t exactly bred for the job as he started out on the Flat for Andrew Balding.

That said, he finished runner-up in a good handicap at Cheltenham’s November meeting off 2lb higher last season and this could be the time of year to catch him.

Can You Call and Nocte Volatus, the second and third from the 2023 running, are also back for more.

Can You Call's trainer Evan Williams has a 26 per cent strike-rate with horses running following wind surgery, which easily exceeds his overall 10 per cent strike-rate, while Nocte Volatus always goes well at this track. He is 9lb better off with that rival than last season with the claim of talented conditional rider Ned Fox factored in.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

Going update

It is good to soft on the chase course and soft on the hurdles track. Clerk of the course Dai Jones said: "We've not had any substantial rain over the weekend. We're on the softer side over hurdles but the chase is predominantly good to soft – we'd need a bit more rain to go back to soft in places. It's lovely jumping ground with plenty of ease."

What they say

Kerry Lee, trainer of Eaton Collina
He won his last two starts, but this is his first run back since February. He's in great form and the ground and everything is fine, but I haven't had a winner in a while.

Evan Williams, trainer of Can You Call
He was very consistent without winning last season. We gave him a wind operation over the summer and we'll see if that's any help. He'll handle most ground.

Emma Lavelle, trainer of Classic King
He jumped brilliantly on his first start over fences at Uttoxeter and then just got one wrong and he and Tom [Bellamy] parted ways. Up until then he did everything right, he travelled well, and he's come out of it well. We think he's a nice horse. He wouldn't want it too soft, but the ground should be fine.

Chris Down, trainer of Opening Bid
He's in good form and won well last time, but the only concern is the ground, as he doesn't like it too soft. Everything was in his favour last time, and he's come out of the Exeter race well, so we'll take our chance.
Reporting by James Stevens

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