Sky Bet Lightning Novices' Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 4m 5.81s

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Selected odds by:

Cloudy Dream⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: J M Jefferson| OR: 144

2/1

Impressive winner of similar small-field contests at Carlisle and Haydock in the autumn and no disgrace behind Buveur D'Air back at Haydock last time. No concerns over the ground (won a novices' hurdle here and two bumpers on good) and no surprise if he picks up the winning thread again.

Form: 13112-1

Marracudja^h,t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 146

7/1

Well beaten behind Arkle market leader Altior at both Sandown and Kempton, though had won a nice novices' chase at Cheltenham before that and no reason why he can't be much more competitive today.

Form: 1142P2-

Forest Bihan⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: B Ellison| OR: 140

7/2

Malcolm Jefferson should have a good line on this one as he finished behind that trainer's Waiting Patiently, who won well at Haydock last week, when the pair met at Newcastle in December. Returned to winning ways back at that track last time when seeing off two rivals and has won on good ground, so no back number.

Form: 2P36-U1

A Hare Breath⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling| OR: 147

11/8

Officially rated the best of these and receives weight from the other trio, so attractive on both that basis and his impressive chasing debut victory at Bangor last time. Stays further and acts on a sound surface, so appears to have strong claims.

Form:

Forecasts

A Hare Breath (11/8), Cloudy Dream (2/1), Forest Bihan (7/2), Marracudja (7/1)

An interesting Grade Two contest and potentially a trappy one for punters, with all four runners rated within half a stone of each other. Nonetheless, we will side with A Hare Breath, who is best in at the weights today and looked a fine recruit to the chasing ranks at Bangor. Cloudy Dream is a very likeable sort and he may chase home the winner, though neither Marracudja nor Forest Bihan are ruled out. 1. A Hare Breath 2. Cloudy Dream 3. Forest Bihan