Martin Bowler Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:47 | Winning time: 4m 33.1s

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Selected odds by:

General Officer²¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 121| D

6/4

Winning pointer who landed back-to-back novice hurdles at Musselburgh before Christmas. Similar form next two starts and faced a stiff task on latest. Strong claims backing chase debut after 7 months off.

Form: 311227-

Chapel Green²⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 110| D

7/2

Won over hurdles at Kelso (2m) in November and was back on track when second in a novice at Newcastle 6 months ago. Very much a chasing type on looks, so interesting one on return.

Form: 7/21042-

Fenna's Loss³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 109| CD

5/1

6/1, good second of 11 in handicap hurdle at this course (20.1f, good) 30 days ago. Makes chase debut. Down in trip. Makes handicap chase debut with a fitness edge over the bulk of his rivals.

Form: P48-102

Horn Cape³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 106| CD

9/2

French bumper winner who got back on track for his new yard when winning handicap hurdles at Sedgefield and this venue in March. Disappointing the last twice but has the physical presence to make a better chaser than hurdler.

Form: 411-382

Hello Judge²⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 99WS

8/1

Winning hurdler but has been far more miss than hit over fences and he's likely to need this first run for 8 months.

Form: 46/72P7-

Non-Runners

Belvedere Blast³⁰

Weight: 11-11| Age: 5

T: A Keatley J: Henry Brooke

Fete Champetre²⁷⁶

Weight: 11-3| Age: 8

T: R Dobbin J: Craig Nichol

Forecasts

General Officer (6/4), Chapel Green (7/2), Horn Cape (9/2), Fenna's Loss (5/1), Hello Judge (8/1), Fete Champetre (10/1), Belvedere Blast (12/1)

GENERAL OFFICER showed fairly useful form over hurdles last season and, as a winning pointer, he appeals as the type to do better over fences, so he gets the nod over fellow chasing debutants Chapel Green and Fenna's Loss in what looks an interesting contest on paper.