Focus Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 5m 55.3s

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Selected odds by:

Hey Bud³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 122

7/1

Ended last season with a 13L victory in a 2m4f novice hurdle at Wincanton (good) in March. Disappointed there on handicap and seasonal debut and has to put an unseat on chase debut at Doncaster last month behind him if he's to take this event.

Form: 7331-9U

Financial Outcome^t³⁴

9/4

Impressive 28L of a 3m2f novices' handicap chase at Doncaster (soft) in January and has had wind surgery since finishing a decent third off this 8lb higher mark at Uttoxeter (3m, heavy) just over a month ago. Strong claims on this occasion.

Form: 2-34413

Indian Brave^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 116

6/1

Built on a string of good placed efforts for this yard when winning by a head over an extended 2m3f at Chepstow (heavy) at the end of last month. Raised 6lb for that victory and is interesting back in up distance.

Form: 1/P-3221

Nativegetaway^p⁸⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 115

8/1

Beaten a neck when runner-up in a 3m handicap chase at Exeter (soft) in November but struggled upped in trip when pulled up over an extended 3m6f at the same venue the following month. One to note on his return from a break.

Form: 73332P

Linenhall^p⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 112| D

8/1

Had just five starts since winning a maiden hurdle over 2m6f at Stratford (good) in November 2017 and was making his first start in well over 18 months when 37L sixth over an extended 2m7f on heavy ground here last month. Others make more appeal.

Form: 1250/4-6

Elite Garde⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R P McLernon| T: P R Webber| OR: 110

8/1

Completed a double when victorious by 2½L in a novices' handicap chase over an extended 2m6f at Leicester (good-to-soft) in early December. Disappointed at Taunton subsequently and races off a mark 6lb higher than for that Leicester triumph.

Form: 794-116

Pres³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 107

7/2

Put a disappointing effort behind him when finishing runner-up over an extended 3m1f at Plumpton (heavy) a month ago. Races off a 1lb higher mark here and he is interesting receiving weight from all of his rivals in this event.

Form: 891282

Forecasts

Financial Outcome (9/4), Pres (7/2), Indian Brave (6/1), Hey Bud (7/1), Linenhall (8/1), Nativegetaway (8/1), Elite Garde (8/1)

FINANCIAL OUTCOME impressed when winning his penultimate start and he can register his second victory of the year by taking this competitive looking novices' handicap chase. The selection is making his first appearance since wind surgery and with the forecast underfoot conditions to suit he can take this ahead of bottom weight Pres who ran well when placed at Plumpton on his most recent outing. Third place can go to Nativegetaway who is dropping in trip following a break.