William Hill Castleford Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

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Selected odds by:

Malystic¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: P D Niven| OR: 142| CD

10/3

Ended last term with a couple of solid efforts in defeat and good start to this season when going close in a Kelso handicap in which the first 2 pulled clear of the rest. Has failed to fire both subsequent starts but now back down to the mark off which he landed this in 2022 and he's 2-2 over C&D.

Form: P33-2P5

Pay The Piper⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 138| CD

5/1

Went close in the novices' handicap on this card in 2021 and done little wrong in 4 starts this season, winning twice at Kelso and runner-up on 2 occasions here, including over C&D in October. Rising 10, he holds no secrets from the handicapper but the fact that he's in good form counts for plenty.

Form: 421212

Harper's Brook^p⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Skelton| OR: 136| D

11/4

Has his quirks but plenty of ability, too, as he displayed when a good second at Ascot last December before going one better at Sandown (left clear at the last) for Ben Pauling. First 2 runs for present yard were low-key but much more like it when second at Newbury last time. Big player.

Form: 210-P52

Parisencore⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 130| C

5/4

Did the job well when opening chase account at Perth (2½m, good to firm) in June and arrives here on the back of a string of creditable efforts in defeat, including when dropping back to 2m at Aintree last time. Possibilities here off an unchanged mark.

Form: 519233

Forecasts

Pay The Piper (15/8), Parisencore (9/4), Harper's Brook (11/4), Malystic (5/1)

Supporting HARPER'S BROOK may not be for the faint-hearted but he is nevertheless appealing having returned to form when second to an unexposed 5-y-o at Newbury last time. That was just third third run for Dan Skelton (and his first since cheekpieces were refitted, headgear in which he had performed well on two of the three previous occasions worn) and he's on a winning mark. 2022 winner Malystic will be a threat if able to bounce back, while both Pay The Piper and Parisencore have claims, too.