Gordon Horner 85th Birthday Beginners' Chase

Off time: 16:06 | Winning time: 4m 53.6s

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Selected odds by:

Benissimo⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Edward Austin⁽⁷⁾| T: A Forbes| OR: 72

150/1

Beaten a long way in handicap hurdles at this venue on his last three starts. Tries his luck over fences again and is readily opposed given his record of 0-5 over the bigger obstacles.

Form: 65P-306

Classic Ben¹⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 133| D

4/1

Winner of two of his five races over hurdles and rounded off last season with a fair run in a valuable handicap at Haydock. Looks the type to make a chaser and is worth noting on his first start over fences.

Form: 211726-

De Rasher Counter¹⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: L P Aspell| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 139| BF

7/1

Fair level of form as a novice hurdler last season and trainer has wasted little time in sending him over fences. Won a point-to-point so the obstacles should not pose too much of a problem on his chasing debut.

Form: 521F72-

Kasakh Noir⁹³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 133

8/1

Promising juvenile hurdler in 2016, but has been off the track since. Resumes his career with his debut run over fences and it will be interesting to see if the market speaks in his favour.

Form: 1316/

Lil Rockerfeller⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: N B King

11/10

Top-class staying hurdler who easily landed a valuable Flat prize at Goodwood in August. Makes his chasing debut and although this trip is his bare minimum, he should have the class to prevail if taking to fences.

Form: 1620P2-

Potters Approach⁵⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 118

40/1

Point-to-point winner who landed a Stratford handicap hurdle when trained by Warren Greatrex. First run over fences for new stable and jockey bookings suggest he is the yard's second string.

Form: 23541/5-

Shady Oaks⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R T Dunne| T: C T Pogson| OR: 129

20/1

Fair degree of promise on both starts over fences and has a future in this sphere. Looks to be biting off more than he can chew against a few of these rivals, however.

Form: 55-34

Wenyerreadyfreddie¹⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 130

4/1

Promising hurdler who was pulled up at Kempton on his only run over fences. Surely capable of better for his leading yard and may give the favourite a run for his money.

Form: 321/4P-2

Forecasts

Lil Rockerfeller (11/10), Wenyerreadyfreddie (4/1), Classic Ben (4/1), De Rasher Counter (7/1), Kasakh Noir (8/1), Shady Oaks (20/1), Potters Approach (40/1), Benissimo (150/1)

Assuming all goes well on his first start over fences, LIL ROCKERFELLER should take care of these rivals without too much fuss. Wenyerreadyfreddie may be the one to chase him home, but Classic Ben, De Rasher Counter and Kasakh Noir are each interesting on their chasing debuts so this could prove a highly informative contest.