Virgin Bet Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 4m 43.49s

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Selected odds by:

Cap Du Mathan^t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| BF

10/3

Dual-winning hurdler who opened account over fences at the fourth attempt in novice handicap at Taunton (2m) in January. Jumped well when following up in an Exeter novice (19.2f) and far from disgraced when second of 3 at Wincanton 17 days ago. Will remain competitive.

Form: 423112

Whistleinthedark^h³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Patrick Cowley⁽³⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 134

7/2

Much improved since switched to fences, making it 2 from 2 in this sphere when again making all at Wetherby last month. More to come and should make a bold bid for the hat-trick from revised mark.

Form: 133-211

Any News^p1,t³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 127

9/2

Bumper/maiden hurdle winner who arrives winless over fences but returned to form (in first-time tongue tie) when third in 5-runner Kempton handicap (18f) last month. Handicapper has afforded him a chance if he can back that up in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 343-883

Stormin Crossgales^h,t¹²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 126

7/1

Signed off last term with Wincanton maiden hurdle success and went in at the first time of asking over fences there in November, making all. Off since but has more to offer in this sphere.

Form: 76231-1

Quid Pro Quo^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Fergus Gregory| T: D Skelton| OR: 124

16/1

Bumper winner who landed his first 2 starts over hurdles in maiden/novice events at up to 21.5f last year. However, came up short in a couple of Grade 2 events returning from a break in October and he made an inauspicious start tp his chasing career at Haydock last month.

Form: 6/1147P

Atholl Street^t¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 118

150/1

Maiden/novice hurdle winner at Taunton in late 2020 but failed to progress over fences last season for Paul Nicholls. Totally ignored in the betting and fell on reappearance/stable debut 11 days ago.

Form: 1P/223-F

Triple Trade²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 115

5/2

Winner of a decent handicap hurdle at Lingfield in early 2022. Failed to complete first 3 starts over fences but much more like it when runner-up twice in recent weeks. Seemed to get outbattled at Chepstow and suspicion is that he needs everything to drop right.

Form: 8-FPP22

Forecasts

Triple Trade (5/2), Cap Du Mathan (10/3), Whistleinthedark (7/2), Any News (9/2), Stormin Crossgales (7/1), Quid Pro Quo (16/1), Atholl Street (150/1)

WHISTLEINTHEDARK has been transformed by the switch to fences and application of a hood, winning a match at Wetherby a month ago, and while the assessor has had his say, Laura Morgan's charge could be up to the task. Stormin Crossgales and Cap du Mathan head the opposition.