Independent Racecourses Limited, IRL Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 4m 20.35s

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Selected odds by:

G'day Aussie^p,t⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: Dave Roberts| OR: 102| D

9/4

There had been hints prior to his last run that he was about to stage a revival and he duly fulfilled that promise with a win over hurdles at Stratford (travelled well). That may have been a weak race but he makes his chasing debut off the same mark.

Form: 7/5P-651

Filemon^t¹⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 100WS

10/1

Offered little over hurdles having shown more in his one bumper effort and returns now are having had some wind surgery. Required to take a big step forward here on his chasing debut and not hard to prefer others in this.

Form: 4809-

Zoltan Varga⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: M R Channon| OR: 99| BF

15/8

Switches to fences having not won over hurdles but did appear to be building up to something in that sphere (late blunder may have cost him a win last time). Up 6lb for his chase debut but can't be ruled out of this based on his hurdling exploits.

Form: 7454-32

Diplomatico²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: T Scudamore| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 81

3/1

A wind op looked to have brought about an improved display switched to fences but he failed to build on that promising outing last time. Did travel well for much of the race last time before finishing very weakly; risky proposition given that fact.

Form: P09-56

Wonga Swinger^b³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: S Thomas| OR: 81

16/1

Landed consecutive handicap hurdles in April 2017 (both weak races) but has failed to raise the pulse since then. His recent chasing starts have been very underwhelming (looks a hard ride) and he would need others to run below-par here.

Form: 1/0PP-38

Civitesses^b,t⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: B Barr| OR: 73

12/1

Maiden handicap hurdler who showed his best form last time from out of the weights in a handicap hurdle around this course (first-time tongue-tie). Needs another career-best making his chasing debut again from out of the weights.

Form: 46/78-83

Non-Runners

Amalfi Doug⁹⁹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 8

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

Zoltan Varga (15/8), G'day Aussie (9/4), Amalfi Doug (11/4), Diplomatico (3/1), Filemon (10/1), Civitesses (12/1), Wonga Swinger (16/1)

Despite his rather unappealing form figures Amalfi Doug has to come into the equation here mainly because of the form of the yard and the record that they have with those that are switched to there from elsewhere (last four such horses have all won). ZOLTAN VARGA ought to have won over hurdles and the switch to fences may allow him to do so despite the 6lb rise from his last hurdles outing. G’Day Aussie came back to form in a weak race last time and now tries his luck over fences and he looks a danger if taking to this discipline. The other quartet look up against it although Diplomatico did travel well last time before failing to finish off his effort.