Murrayshall Country Estate Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 4m 2.1s

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Selected odds by:

Garde Des Champs^t³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Power⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 115| CD

4/1

Hurdles winner here who is on a losing run (maiden over fences) but went agonisingly close to bucking that trend after 6 months off when just touched off in 9-runner handicap chase at Kelso (20f) 37 days ago. A repeat should see him firmly in the mix again.

Form: 2343F2-

Schmilsson²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 112| D

8/11

Second hurdle success when shading a tight finish in 2m Wetherby handicap back in October. Form rather up and down subsequently but seemingly perked up by application of cheekpieces when third of 7 in handicap hurdle at Haydock (15.6f) 25 days ago. Respected now chasing.

Form: 134543-

Disco Annie^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 109

16/5

Landed a hurdles double at Carlisle during the winter and made a promising chase debut when runner-up at the same venue in December. Not seen to best effect either start over fences/hurdles since and no surprise to see a better showing returned to 2m.

Form: 116250-

Nathan Wells^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 98

14/1

Fair maiden for Gordon Elliott and made a sound start for new connections when second in a 2m Hexham maiden hurdle (16.2f) in March. However, not replicated that either start since and significant drop back in trip needs to have positive effect now chasing.

Form: P4524P-

Darkest Day^p,t¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 79| D

50/1

4-time winner over hurdles who ran well when runner-up here (16.2f) in November. Not matched that level subsequently and switch to this discipline failed to spark a revival at Sedgefield when last seen in November. Work to do on return operating from 10 lb out of the weights.

Form: 0P5523-

Forecasts

Schmilsson (8/11), Disco Annie (16/5), Garde Des Champs (4/1), Nathan Wells (14/1), Darkest Day (50/1)

It may pay to take a chance on DISCO ANNIE who has had excuses on her last 2 starts and, entitled to come on a little for her latest run over hurdles, it would come as no surprise to see a better showing returned to chasing over this shorter trip. Garde des Champs has become expensive to follow but a repeat of his latest Kelso second can see him feature. Schmilsson is another to note now tackling larger obstacles for the first time.