William Hill - Home Of Betting Handicap Chase

1.55 Kempton
William Hill - Home Of Betting Handicap Chase (Class 3) (5YO plus)
Winner £7,514

Pick: Polyfast (win)

Polyfast: Won at this meeting last year before a winless period which ended last June (when he beat Franchoek by 10 lengths) before a poor run in the Summer at Market Rasen; Won on this card last year after a similar break and should hold strong claims.

Safari Adventures: Career best when winning by 19 lengths at Aintree in the summer and has come back to that sort of form with second in good race at Cheltenham and again at Ayr; Has claims here, especially if allowed to lead untested.

The Snail: Won 6 times up to three miles last time, and proved he goes on soft ground too; Jumped poorly on 2m return at Ffos Las in November, but return to further and a right-handed track will help him do better here.

Bible Lord: Hasn’t been the most solid of jumpers over fences, but he’s dropped down the weights a lot and needs considering and showed big signs he could be ready to strike again when making the frame in blinkers at Towcester and Ffos Las the last twice.

Free World: Very much sort to come into his own as a chaser; Made encouraging return at Cheltenham earlier in season in big race and while he was well beaten last time, this is easier and he’s fit from an AW bumper win; Quicker the ground the better.

Ursis: Battered off mistakes and regression to romp home by 9 lengths when last seen; Stable in some sort of decent form of late and can’t be rules out, although his jumping needs to stay secure.

Drybook Bedouin: Useful hunter chaser for Peter Shaw although he needs a big leap of faith to be backing here after his lacklustre effort when last seen; This harder than usual for him.

JimbataI: Won a novice chase in July over this trip and hasn’t been seen at his best over longer trips since; This not a great race, o if back to best he’s weighted to put in a big run.

It’s Crucial: Sketchy jumper but has decent profile at the least and hasn’t been disgraced on his 2 seconds this season; 10lbs higher than when last winning but wouldn’t rule out off a nice weight.

Cruchain: Has been claimed out of Jonjo O’Neill’s yard and would be well in on past form, but he can’t be trusted having been dropped back to sellers.

VERDICT: The ground might not be as testing as first thought. The ground is more testing than POLYFAST would like but he showed he can go well fresh when making a winning reappearance over C&D last term and comes from a red hot yard. He can see off Free World and The Snail.