Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 26.4s

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Selected odds by:

Messire Des Obeaux²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: A King| OR: 152| CD

4/1

Smart novice hurdler during 2016/17 campaign who has taken extremely really well to chasing, supplementing his Wincanton handicap win in Grade 2 Dipper there last month. Open to further progress.

Form: 233/4-11

Paint The Dream^t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 147| D

20/1

Winning hurdler who finally clicked over fences when making all in 8-runner handicap at Newbury (22.4f) 39 days ago. However, it remains to be seen which way he goes from here.

Form: 50-2231

Shan Blue⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 152

2/1

Useful hurdler who maintained his unbeaten start over fences in Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton, again jumping superbly. Drop back in trip holds no fears and open to further improvement.

Form: 326-111

Sporting John⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 149| BF

14/1

Winning pointer who impressed when landing first 3 hurdling starts. Finished distressed in Ballymore at Cheltenham and again disappointed when distant third on Exeter chasing bow. Has it to prove.

Form: 1/1117-3

Up The Straight²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: James Davies| T: R Rowe| OR: 135| D

125/1

Useful hurdler who can win races over fences judged on his second at Fontwell (19.5f) 23 days ago, but is surely flying too high in this grade.

Form: 1-432U2

Hitman⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 151

2/1

Hurdle winner in France and came home in splendid isolation on Ffos Las chase/yard debut. Excellent second to Allmankind in Henry VIII Chase here (15.5f) since and further progress likely up in trip.

Form: 2P1-12

Dame De Compagnie^h¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 148| D

15/2

Highly progressive hurdler who landed the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Followed up without too much fuss on Ayr chase debut 10 months on and seems sure to progress back up in trip.

Form: 21/511-1

Forecasts

Shan Blue (2/1), Hitman (2/1), Messire Des Obeaux (4/1), Dame De Compagnie (15/2), Sporting John (14/1), Paint The Dream (20/1), Up The Straight (125/1)

A cracking renewal of this often-significant Grade 1. MESSIRE DES OBEAUX couldn’t have made a much better start over fences and, having comfortably lowered the colours of a smart one in the Grade 2 Dipper at Wincanton last month, he’s taken extend his unbeaten record to 3 in this sphere. Hitman, Dame de Compagnie and Shan Blue are all fascinating contenders, though.