Come Racing This Boxing Day Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 6m 36.9s

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Selected odds by:

Planned Paradise²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: J E Moore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 121

2/1

Took his form up a notch when opening chase account at Worcester (20f) in June before posting very good second of 4 at Perth the following month. Disappointing last time, but likely to get back on track.

Form: 4-24123

Ocean Drifter^h⁵⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: J J Burke| T: O Sherwood| OR: 119| D

10/1

Successful in Fontwell maiden (17.7f) and Southwell novice (20.4f) over hurdles before struggling in better company. Given a chance by the handicapper and freshened up, now, and he's the sort to make a better chaser.

Form: 3211P5/

Margaret's Legacy¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 118

8/1

Fairly useful form over hurdles/fences in France. Weakening when unseated in a handicap chase at Chepstow on debut for current stable but not one to write off from a fair mark.

Form: 52233-U

Fawsley Spirit⁵⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Luca Morgan⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 116| C

9/2

Fairly useful hurdler (didn't fire over fences earlier in his career) who was in good form when last seen. Has been off 19 months since, but he's of interest from this lower chasing mark.

Form: 22F124/

Schalke¹⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Menzies| OR: 114| C

6/1

Showed himself well suited by staying trips when scoring over hurdles at Market Rasen and Catterick last season. Below form at Perth 6 months ago, however, and he' not an obvious sort for chasing.

Form: 77114-6

Harry Du Berlais²¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Charlie Hammond| T: N Kent| OR: 98| D

10/3

Irish point winner who left hurdling form behind when runner-up in a handicap at Bangor on chasing debut 7 months ago. Open to further improvement on return.

Form: 1P332-

Forecasts

Planned Paradise (2/1), Harry Du Berlais (10/3), Fawsley Spirit (9/2), Schalke (6/1), Margaret's Legacy (8/1), Ocean Drifter (10/1)

Ex-pointer HARRY DU BERLAIS improved on his first go at chasing when runner-up at Bangor and, despite being off 7 months subsequently, he's worth a chance to improve further and open his account in this sphere. Planned Paradise is a danger and Ocean Drifter is worthy of consideration on his first go over fences.