SPM Scotland Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 5m 5.91s

Flying Eagle²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 120| D

2/1

Successful in five point-to-points his return to racing under Rules at Market Rasen in a 0-135 handicap left questions to be answered. Put that flop behind him when prominently ridden to win at Cartmel but back in handicaps faces another stiff test.

Form: 1-11141

I'm An Izz Wizz²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: R Johnson| T: L Lennon| OR: 115| D

11/4

Sprang to life over fences in June when taking a handicap off a mark of 101 and backed that up with a second win last time out off a 4lb higher mark. Travelled well on both occasions but will need to find some more progress off a 10lb higher mark now.

Form: 27-6151

No Such Number^p,t⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 114| D

12/1

Has proved to be a revelation for this yard winning four consecutive handicap chases off a mark of to 109. A further 5lb rise appeared to half him in his tracks last time and he goes off the same mark here and the result may be the same.

Form: P-11116

Dr Moloney^p⁷⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 109| C

8/1

No stranger to this course despite travelling well in the majority of his races he finds little for pressure and generally falters in the closing stages. Has run his last five races here with the story remaining the same very time and its likely to be no different now.

Form: 33PP-35

Beau Bay^h¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 105| BF

3/1

Has run consistently for this yard with plausible excuses for his last two defeats over hurdles. Now switched to fences off a 5lb higher mark (has been competitive off higher over hurdles) and well worth watching in the market for a shrewd yard.

Form: 785422

Fenlon's Hill¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: P Stafford| OR: 105

12/1

A longstanding maiden who shows no sign of ending that run refusing to race last time out at Sligo. Makes his chasing debut here but that's likely to make little or no difference.

Form: P-5263R

Forecasts

Flying Eagle (2/1), I'm An Izz Wizz (11/4), Beau Bay (3/1), Dr Moloney (8/1), Fenlon's Hill (12/1), No Such Number (12/1)

Another race where the talent doesn’t run deep and it could well be that positive tactics on Flying Eagle will be used again but he can be a quirky individual and no two races come alike to him. I’m An Izz Wizz looks a strong traveller in his races but a 10lb higher mark will test his mettle and it may well be that BEAU BAY can make a winning chase debut getting weight from all bar one of his rivals. His trainer does well with his limited runners here and he’s not badly weighted on his hurdles form. We’ll probably see another flatter to deceive performance from Dr Moloney while the handicapper looks to have a grip on No Such Number now.