Weatherbys Stallion Book Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 5m 42.5s

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Selected odds by:

Cash Again²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 115| C

2/1

Sprang surprise off 9lb lower mark when popping up at here over 2f shorter last time out. This is tougher, but another big run not ruled out if building on that effort.

Form: 0-576P1

Classical Milano¹⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 112

16/1

22/1 Hexham maiden hurdle last April but ran badly both start othis term and has been off for 103 days. First time in handicap and not easy to assess, but needs to prove wellbeing after last two efforts.

Form: 4841-P8

Kilronan Castle^p⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 109| BF

7/2

Yard has 21% strike rate at this track and has been in fine form all season. Made all and won easily at Leicester in December off 7lb lower mark, but weakened from last at Doncaster last time. Step back up in trip should help.

Form: P2-6915

Romulus Du Donjon⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 107

6/1

Ran on well to land Catterick handicap hurdle in November but hans't shone in two starts since. Makes chasing bow here for yard going well this term and any money for him would be significant.

Form: 445174

Instant Replay⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 103| C

10/3

Maiden hurdler but solidly back on chasing debut here last month and duly obliged off 4lb lower mark. Could be better to come so very much respected and should be thereabouts.

Form: 65-7641

Paddling³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 101

6/1

Showed little over hurdles but doing better over fences. Won Catterick handicap chase in December and not disgraced in desperate ground last time at Ayr. At the right end of the weights and another solid run not ruled out.

Form: 84-4313

Forecasts

Cash Again (2/1), Instant Replay (10/3), Kilronan Castle (7/2), Paddling (6/1), Romulus Du Donjon (6/1), Classical Milano (16/1)

A competitive little novices handicap chase in which a case can be made for just about all six runners. Narrow preference is for INSTANT REPLAY who gets weight from most of his rivals and won well here last time. He should stay. Top weight Cash Again is respected on his recent course win but is 9lb higher and will need to have improved, while Kilronnan Castle could be a danger to all stepping back up in trip. Romulus Du Donjohn and Paddling are not out of it either if things go thier way.