Peter Sutton On Course Bookmakers Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:28 | Winning time: 5m 9.9s

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Selected odds by:

Soldier Of Destiny^t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 122WS

5/2

Showed ability in a maiden hurdle/bumper in Ireland. Seemed to show more than on yard debut when fifth in a Hereford novice chase (2m) in January and since undergone wind surgery. Handicap debut.

Form: 342-145

Shalakar¹¹³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 119

15/2

Landed a Ludlow novice hurdle (21.2f) for this yard during early 2018. Placed on 2 of 3 starts during 2018/19 season but absent since and market may prove a good guide now chasing on belated return.

Form: 331320/

Nikap⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 119| C| D

14/1

Landed pair of small-field handicap chases upon joining new yard in the autumn (including here). Not in same form either start over hurdles since but return to chasing may have positive effect now.

Form: 331145

Yggdrasil⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: David Noonan| T: Nick Williams| OR: 120

3/1

Half-brother to smart chaser Siruh du Lac who confirmed promise of hurdling exploits when successful on handicap chase debut at Bangor (20.3f) in November, jumping soundly. Player with more to come.

Form: 356-21

Pride Of Lecale^h³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 113| C

9/2

Veteran who hasn't made the track often but defied market weakness to open chase account in a first-time hood at FFos Las (2m) last month, cruising clear. Task now is to back that up.

Form: 15/PP-P1

Longshanks⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 113| BF

15/2

Lightly-raced winning hurdler who showed promise when placed on first 2 starts over fences this term. Disappointed at Exeter (19.2f) on New Year's Day but mark has eased and bounce back not ruled out.

Form: F51-334

Caswell Bay²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 109| D

15/2

Dual hurdles winner in 2019/20 who arrives having run best race for some time when runner-up at Chepstow (23.6f) last month. Goes chasing now from unchanged mark and good showing not ruled out.

Form: 364-562

Forecasts

Soldier Of Destiny (5/2), Yggdrasil (3/1), Pride Of Lecale (9/2), Longshanks (15/2), Caswell Bay (15/2), Shalakar (15/2), Nikap (14/1)

Half-brother to connections' smart chaser Siruh du Lac, YGGDRASIL confirmed the promise of his hurdles exploits when scoring on chase debut at Bangor (20.3f) in November and Nick Williams' 5-y-o is fancied to follow up back from a short break. Longshanks needs to dispel a lesser effort latest but is feared if doing so. Recent Chepstow scorer Pride of Lecale completes the shortlist.