Andy Hobbs Memorial Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:02 | Winning time: 5m 6.3s

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Selected odds by:

Bagheera Ginge^p1²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 117| BF| C

5/2

Steadily progressive over hurdles last term, scoring at Stratford and Newton Abbot. Failed to complete first 2 starts in this sphere but much better the last twice and should go close if responding well to the first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 17-PF23

Investment Manager^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 115| C

4/1

Opened chase account at Exeter (19.2f, heavy) in April and added to that when seeing off 7 rivals over 25.8f here (good) last time. Drop back in trip shouldn't be an issue but now 5 b higher and, moreover, he's by no means certain to be in the same form, given his up-and-down profile.

Form: P1-5231

Romanor³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 111| BF| C| D

9/2

Bagged a trio of handicap chases at around 2m here last year. Placed on 4 of his 5 starts since returning from a break in May and now 3 lb below last winning mark, so he has to enter calculations.

Form: 7-62323

Glajou^p,t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Bryan Carver| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 105

4/1

Landed a Warwick handicap chase off 4 lb higher last August and has returned to form the last twice, finding just one too good at Southwell and again when 3¾ lengths second to Dan's Chosen over this C&D. 4 lb better off with that rival now and should make his presence felt.

Form: 44-7422

Dan's Chosen^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 105| CD

10/3

Returned to form from out of the blue with cheekpieces refitted when proving too strong for Glajou and 6 others in a C&D handicap at the end of last month. 5 lb higher mark demands more of him but, if in the same form, he should nevertheless have a part to play.

Form: 2FP-761

Forecasts

Bagheera Ginge (5/2), Dan's Chosen (10/3), Investment Manager (4/1), Glajou (4/1), Romanor (9/2)

Cases can be made for each member of the quintet, with BAGHEERA GINGE shading preference. The form of his effort at Worcester is strong and he shaped like the clear second best at the weights when third at the same course last time. The combination of the drop back in trip and better ground will help, while the addition of cheekpieces may help eke out a little more. Romanor is second choice ahead of Dan's Chosen, who got the better of Glajou over C&D last time, and Investment Manager.