Core Spreads Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 4m 58.1s

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Selected odds by:

Gaelic Poet^t¹⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 103

5/1

Hurdles maiden (0-5) who fared best when fourth in a Taunton novice (2m½f, good) last December; champion jockey Richard Johnson is aboard on chasing debut; first competitive start for 149 days.

Form: 994597-

Goldslinger^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 97

7/2

Just failed when beaten a neck by Light Gunner on his final hurdles start at Fontwell (2m1½f, good) in May; has posted a couple of fair efforts over fences to date (2m1f-2m5½f); is certainly in with a shout for local trainer Gary Moore.

Form: P94-243

Torhousemuir^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: S Thomas| OR: 90| D

7/2

Deservedly made it 14th-time lucky over fences at Worcester (2m4f, good) last month, winning with plenty in hand; is prone to running in snatches but an 8lb rise looks manageable in light of his previous chasing exploits in 2018.

Form: 3-6PF41

Agent Westy¹⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 89

12/1

Failed to make a positive impression over hurdles (0-6), regressing through the early months of the calendar year; heads beyond 2m for the first-time on chasing debut (from a 176-day absence); either of those factors could unlock some improvement.

Form: 477608-

Shimba Hills^p,t³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: David Bass| T: Mrs L Hill| OR: 87| C

12/1

Dual course winner (over hurdles); hasn't cut the mustard over fences to date (0-3), unseating Bryony Frost at the first at Fontwell 31 days ago; sits on a very workable mark assuming that he can get his act together over the larger obstacles.

Form: 45P-64U

Taaffes Castle^p1,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: James Bowen| T: Christian Williams| OR: 79

5/1

Took a step forward from his seasonal reappearance run at Fontwell when finishing runner-up at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good to soft), yet was still beaten 15L by Findusatgorcombe; more required in newly applied cheekpieces (accompany a tongue-tie).

Form: 4-22742

Enforcement^p,t⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 85| C

9/2

Sole win over hurdles came here at Plumpton (2m, good to soft) in March; essentially only moderate since (0-5) and with that in mind alongside his pedigree, is basically difficult to fancy on chasing debut.

Form: 14-68P4

Noble Saffron¹⁹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 75

20/1

Demonstrated no ability whatsoever over hurdles (0-4), so you'd be taking a mighty chance if electing to invest your hard earned cash on this four-year-old chasing debutant; half-brother to the northern handicappers Runswick Royal and Nuts Well.

Form: 70P5P0-

Forecasts

Torhousemuir (7/2), Goldslinger (7/2), Enforcement (9/2), Taaffes Castle (5/1), Gaelic Poet (5/1), Agent Westy (12/1), Shimba Hills (12/1), Noble Saffron (20/1)

Although often on and off the bridle throughout his races, it's difficult to be against TORHOUSEMUIR after his deserving first success over fences at Worcester (2m4f). He won with plenty in hand on that occasion and ought to be able to handle an 8lb rise in the weights given his exploits over the larger obstacles in 2018. Of the remainder, the locally-trained Goldslinger looks best placed to throw down a possible challenge to the likely favourite.