Rachel Jones Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:58 | Winning time: 4m 15.26s

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Selected odds by:

Bareback Jack^t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 122| CD

7/2

Promising novice hurdler during 2020/21 campaign and, though more miss than hit since returning from a mammoth absence in December, he managed to land a handicap hurdle here on penultimate start. This former point winner may well benefit from the switch to fences, but current mark is a tough one.

Form: 14/591-0

Collingham⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: J Coulson| OR: 117| CD

14/1

Won 2 handicap hurdles for Donald McCain last spring and successful in claimers at Catterick and Fakenham for Archie Watson in recent months. Sandwiched between those victories was a respectable chase debut at Ffos Las and he's not a forlorn hope back in this sphere on debut for new yard.

Form: 11F13-1

Tactical Affair^p³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 109| D

7/4

Hurdles winner in Ireland and opened chase account at the seventh attempt with a decisive all-the-way success at Stratford (17f, good) last month. Predictably hit hard by the assessor (raised 10 lb), but he may well benefit from an easy lead here and another bold show is likely.

Form: 444P-21

Barranco^t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Toby Wynne| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 99| CD

11/8

Bumper winner for Stuart Crawford in 2021 and while he didn't show much in sporadic appearances for Henry Hogarth, this 8-y-o has been transformed by changing yards, winning handicap chases over this C&D and at Worcester the last twice. Could still be ahead of the handicapper.

Form: PP/PP-11

Forecasts

Barranco (11/8), Tactical Affair (7/4), Bareback Jack (7/2), Collingham (14/1)

Despite rocketing up the weights following a quickfire double last month, BARRANCO may well have more to offer and he is taken to make it 3-3 for this yard. Likely pace angle Tactical Affair is the clear main danger, with Collingham marginally preferred to chase debutant Bareback Jack in the race for minor honours.