Lycetts Farm And Estate Insurance Brokers Novices' Chase

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 27.4s

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Selected odds by:

Positively Dylan²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 137| D

9/2

Fell on his last start over fences but that was in a much better grade than this and he had shown useful form in a handicap prior to that mishap. Given his previous chasing form he should find this a more suitable test and is a likely player with his sights lowered here.

Form: 333U1F

Rather Be⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 143| BF| D

2/7

His hurdles form would have been the best of these (won an Aintree Grade 3 handicap last year) and looks the type to make a better chaser. Straight off the mark over fences when beating a small field at Towcester on chasing debut; should overcome his mishap last time here.

Form: 2U18-1U

Gin And Tonic^b¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: M Wigham| OR: 82| BF| CD

50/1

A three-time winner around here over hurdles he faces a very different and harder task here having had five runs over fences without showing much sparkle. Ran respectably when last seen here over fences but faces a very stiff task at these weights.

Form: 7P8318

L'Es Fremantle¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: M C Chapman| OR: 60

150/1

Pulled-up on his only start over fences he faces a very stiff task here on his second try in this sphere. Would be a huge surprise to see him get involved here.

Form: 750506

Ivor's Queen^t⁷¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 117

6/1

Fair form over fences when tried over them before last summer before being switched back to hurdles for her last few runs. Her form so far over the larger obstacles hasn't matched that of her main rivals but does receive a fair amount of weight here.

Form: 244144

Forecasts

Rather Be (2/7), Positively Dylan (9/2), Ivor's Queen (6/1), Gin And Tonic (50/1), L'Es Fremantle (150/1)

Two of the main players in this failed to complete last time out which doesn’t augur well although RATHER BE did unseat his rider in rather soft fashion at Plumpton having shown up well on his chasing debut at Towcester. His hurdles form entitles him to be favourite over Positively Dylan who has won over fences but suffered a heavy fall last time out although he’ll find this a lot easier than that Grade 2 at Haydock last time out. Ivor’s Queen is the other one with a chance in this as she returns to chasing having shown some promise when last seen over fences.