Eric And Lucy Papworth Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 5m 20.8s

Doitforthevillage^h,t²¹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: P J Brennan| T: P Henderson| OR: 118

11/8

Won three of his last five races over fences and a fairly useful chaser on his day. Made further progress when winning at Lingfield over 2m last time out off a mark of 118 and runs under a 7lb penalty (He'll surely go up more or at least as much for his Lingfield win) and looks a far better jumper when in front.

Form: 51132F

Minella Fiveo¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 115

4/1

Very lightly raced in the last couple of years but looks very capable when he is seen. Won well last time out at Uttoxeter under a typically prominent Danny Cook ride. Does have experience in point-to-points and of interest as he makes his (belated) chase debut.

Form: 65417/6

Handsome Sam²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: W Featherstone⁽⁵⁾| T: A King| OR: 113

7/1

Runner-up in Irish point-to-points and has won over hurdles and has shown some decent form over the smaller obstacles this season. Still looked in good form last time out at Warwick where the 3m trip stretched his stamina and he'll e much more at home over this shorter trip on his chase debut.

Form: 87-2024

Scooter Boy³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: T E Whelan| T: A M Hales| OR: 111

6/1

Has some fair form over hurdles but failed to make much impression on his chase debut over further at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. Well supported in the market on that occasion he was struggling from a long way out and that leaves him with questions to answer today.

Form: 6154-34

Royal Classic⁶⁸⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 109

20/1

Not seen out since March 2015 when failing to stay 2m on testing ground in a Newbury novice. Makes his chase debut here and can only be watched after such an absence.

Form: 358/

Coole Charmer¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 107

5/1

Bits and pieces of form give him a chance here the best of those being the second to Twenty Eight Guns at Bangor in December. Failed to back that up last time out in first-time cheekpieces at Lingfield and one to be starting to be wary of now after that run.

Form: 096-520

Non-Runners

Nobel Leader⁷⁶

Weight: 10-10| Age: 7

T: H J Evans J: James Banks

Forecasts

Doitforthevillage (11/8), Minella Fiveo (4/1), Coole Charmer (5/1), Scooter Boy (6/1), Handsome Sam (7/1), Nobel Leader (16/1), Royal Classic (20/1)

Doitforthevillage will be a popular choice to follow-up his easy Lingfield victory but he can through in the odd poor run and this race has a little more depth to it that maybe first appears. Both HANDSOME SAM and Minella Fiveo are talented recruits to chasing and provide some testing opposition here. Coole Charmer and Scooter Boy should be capable of winning over fences but have to recover from poor efforts last time out. At a big price Nobel Leader would be interesting for a handicap if he was dropped a few pounds given his debut run over this course. 1. Handsome Sam 2. Minella Fiveo 3. Doitforthevillage