Performance Foundations Novices' Chase

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 5m 28.2s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Adrien Du Pont^t²²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143

4/7

Stable have a good record in this race and this one was rated in the 140s over hurdles and is clearly of above average ability. Back from a break here and a couple of below-par runs but should hold too many guns for this field.

Form: 11/43UP-

Fortunate George^v¹⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 131| BF

9/2

Finally gained compensation for plenty of placed efforts when winning at Uttoxeter in March and followed that up with another good effort at Haydock despite being out of the places. Should make a chaser and usually travels strongly.

Form: 422315-

Leith Hill Lad¹⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| BF

28/1

Wouldn't be up to the same level as some of these over hurdles with only a novice hurdle win to his name and rated some 20lb lower in that sphere that one or two of the main players here. Looks to have a tough task on chasing debut and will need an easier grade than this.

Form: 5/165F3-

Mister Whitaker¹⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Adrian Heskin| T: M R Channon| OR: 118

40/1

Fair form in bumpers and novice hurdles but now sent chasing and given a tough task on his debut in this sphere. Rather strange that his connections have bypassed handicaps and taken this route.

Form: 26343-

Pickamix^t¹⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann

6/1

Form in bumpers and over hurdles was useful and this three time hurdles winner comes here on a hat-trick albeit the two previous wins came in April and May over hurdles. Appreciates a test of stamina so this might be a little on the sharp side for him on chase debut.

Form: 11321-1

Toviere¹⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 124

12/1

Got off the mark over hurdles at his 7th attempt winning a small field handicap over this trip at Kempton Park in May taking advantage of a soft lead. Faces a stiffer test here on his chasing debut but should in time be capable of winning in this sphere.

Form: 42343-1

Forecasts

Adrien Du Pont (4/7), Fortunate George (9/2), Pickamix (6/1), Toviere (12/1), Leith Hill Lad (28/1), Mister Whitaker (40/1)

With all of these making their chase debuts the best guide is how they performed over hurdles and the best of them was ADRIEN DU PONT by a decent margin and Paul Nicholls his trainer has won this with some decent hurdling types in the past including last year. Fortunate George should be able to make a race of it with the projected market leader but has work to do at the weights based on hurdles ratings. The other quartet have work to do at these weights but it would be no surprise to see both Pickamix and Toviere pick up chases in the future although both would have more chance handicaps over fences and face a relatively stiff task here.