Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 3m 56.80s

Charbel^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 154

6/5

Showed that he could live with the best when stepping up to Grade 1 company at Sandown when beaten 6L by Arkle winner Altior, jumping impressively. Once again tried to take the race to Altior in the Arkle at Cheltenham and jumped well until crumpling on landing two out. Unlikely to have beaten the winner but not hard to see him winging his way around here if none the worst for that fall.

Form: 215-512

Forest Bihan²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: B Ellison| OR: 149

6/1

Consistent and likable type over fences who has won three of his five starts over larger obstacles with his best display coming when he took a Grade 2 2m race at Doncaster. Failed to cope with the stiffer fences and the pace of the the Arkle and that left him on the back foot. His jumping will get another stiff examination here and it remains to be seen how he will cope again.

Form: 2P36-U1

Politologue^h²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150

5/2

Good second at Haydock (conceded weight all round) and won in a match at Kempton Park. Ran well for a fair way at Cheltenham before the stamina test rather found him out and a return to shorter on a flatter track may well be what is required.

Form: 21U210-

San Benedeto^p,t⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150

4/1

Winner of half of his ten chases outings he's looked capable of some smart chasing form although all of his wins have been at a lower level and the last three have come in handicaps. Those runs while progressive still leave him something to find here and he'll find this a tougher test. He can travel well in his races but his finishing effort has been found wanting in the past often flattering to deceive.

Form: U31111

Colla Pier³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: R T Dunne| T: D P Dunne

33/1

The only mare in the field she has yet to won over fences having had five starts over them and come up short every time and this would be a very stiff task for her. She looked out of sorts last time out in a Listed contest at Huntingdon in March and place money would surely be the best she could hope for here.

Form: 382554

Forecasts

Charbel (6/5), Politologue (5/2), San Benedeto (4/1), Forest Bihan (6/1), Colla Pier (33/1)

Not the deepest of contests and CHARBEL could well find this a suitable test with a likely easy lead on a flatter track. Forest Bihan needs to improve his jumping and the fences here will provide him with another stiff test and that may well allow Politologue who should be suited by the flatter track and shorter trip to be the main opposition to Charbel. San Benedeto has been on the upgrade of late but he faces a rise in class here and he’s often flattered to deceive with his finishing effort.