DragonBet Proud To Be Welsh Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 7m 1.86s

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Selected odds by:

Imperial Storm²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr James Shaw⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 97| D

40/1

Bumper/hurdles winner for Fergal O'Brien but has struggled since returning from an absence for his new yard. Needs this switch to chasing to spark a revival.

Form: 3/P060U

Puddlesinthepark^p¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 89| CD

4/1

Latest win in chase at Hereford in February. Creditable second of 6 in handicap chase (3/1) at Ludlow (23.8f, soft) 1 day ago. Has to be taken seriously.

Form: 660412

Dreams Of Diamonds^p,t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 84

9/4

Has run to a very similar level on 3 of his 4 starts over fences, latest when finding one too strong in 13-runner handicap at this C&D (heavy) just over 3 weeks ago. Should find a race coming his way before too long so he's shortlisted.

Form: 73/3P-32

Jikala¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Ned Fox⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 84

10/1

French import who was successful in juvenile hurdle at Hereford in March 2023 but, with her mark in freefall since coming to Britain, she's been below par all 4 starts over fences this season after a 20 month-absence.

Form: 14/6634

The Big Reveal^p,t1³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Conor Ring| T: G Harris| OR: 81

5/1

Poor form in handicaps chases this season but wasn't disgraced from 2 lb out of the weights when fifth at Chepstow (23.6f, heavy) last month. Tongue tie added to his usual cheekpieces and will need to take a step forward to open his account.

Form: 7/P5745

Try The Money²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: David Noonan| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 75

5/2

Showed a bit more than previously over fences when third of 13 in handicap at this C&D (heavy) just over 3 weeks ago, that effort at least on a par with his best hurdles efforts. No surprise to see him involved nudged up 1 lb.

Form: 53-47P3

Esperti²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Shane Fenelon⁽⁵⁾| T: D A Rees| OR: 75

16/1

Little impact over hurdles for current yard and hasn't fared any better over fences on his last 5 starts, exiting early in unfortunate circumstances over C&D (heavy) earlier in the month. Others preferred all the same.

Form: 9P454B

Forecasts

Dreams Of Diamonds (9/4), Try The Money (5/2), Puddlesinthepark (4/1), The Big Reveal (5/1), Jikala (10/1), Esperti (16/1), Imperial Storm (40/1)

A few in with a squeak but the vote goes to DREAMS OF DIAMONDS, who has run to a very similar level on 3 of his 4 starts over fences and is fancied to go one better than he did over C&D earlier in the month. Try The Money was a place behind the selection that day and he may have to chase him home again, with Puddlesinthepark, who ran creditably at Ludlow on Thursday, rounding off the shortlist.