HELTENHAM bounced back to form last week and can give Dan Skelton’s title bid a helping hand by landing the Phil Nelson River Tay Handicap Chase at Perth.

The eight-year-old has been a fine servant for the Alcester handler, winning six times since joining him from France, with five victories over fences featuring a trio of lucrative triumphs at Newbury.

Having risen to a career-high mark of 142, this season has been more of a struggle but after the handicapper offered some assistance, he showed encouraging signs at Newton Abbot on Saturday.