Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 3m 51.1s

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Selected odds by:

Caid Du Lin^b,t⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 143| D

20/1

Struggled to make an impact in the hurly-burly of the Grand Annual; appeared much happier last time down in grade back in a smaller field at Ascot (runner-up). Looks to have a stiff task again here back up in grade; likely to find this beyond him.

Form: 2P2102

Clondaw Castle²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 144| D

13/2

Bold front-runner who progressed through handicaps over fences to take his place in the Arkle last time (took fourth). Judged to be much better than his final placing given that he pressed the winner all the way; did have a hard race though.

Form: 7-52114

Destrier⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 142| D

7/1

Not been tested in this sort of class yet but comes here with an 2-2 chasing record having won easily last time at Ayr backing up a Southwell handicap win. Interesting that connections take this route; would be of interest in valuable handicaps.

Form: 152-311

Knocknanuss²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 146| D

8/1

Headstrong when falling on his chase debut he soon made amends with two emphatic wins in novice and handicap company. Lost nothing when chasing home a smart type at Plumpton; had little go right since, forced to do too much too soon in the Arkle.

Form: F112F5

Lalor²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: K Woollacott| OR: 151| CD

7/2

Grade 1 Aintree hurdles winner who made a fine start to his chasing career with a Grade 2 Cheltenham win. Has failed to live up to those expectations since disappointing on two occasions; ran as if amiss when pulled up in the Arkle; point to prove.

Form: 201-13P

Ornua²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 149| D

3/1

Taken well to fences winning three of his first five starts in this sphere culminating in a Grade 3 victory in October. Not scored since although he has acquitted himself well (usually under an attacking ride); fell sixth in the Arkle last time.

Form: 12122F

Us And Them^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 151| D

3/1

Hard to fault his record over fences where apart from his debut he's yet to finish out of the first two (four successive runner up slots in Graded races). Benefitted from a change of tactics (held up) to take second in the Arkle; leading claims.

Form: 412222

Forecasts

Ornua (3/1), Us And Them (3/1), Lalor (7/2), Clondaw Castle (13/2), Destrier (7/1), Knocknanuss (8/1), Caid Du Lin (20/1)

As with the Arkle which five of these contested it looks as though there will be a good pace on with at least three of these usually ridden positively. One of those will be the Arkle faller Ornua whose trainer Henry De Bromhead has won this twice before; Knocknanuss is another free-going sort (who failed to cope with the standing start in the Arkle along with Clondaw Castle who did well to last as long as he did given the pace pressure he faced. That scenario could set the race up in a similar way again for Arkle runner-up US AND THEM to pick up the pieces again having shown consistent form at this level. Destrier is the dark horse of the race who looks to have been saved for this test.