Timothy Hardie Jewellers Novices' Chase

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 5m 28.10s

Chitu^t⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: C O'Farrell| T: P Griffin| OR: 130| C

18/1

Impressive winner here last month but now faces much stiffer competition. This trip on ground softer than ideal makes this even tougher.

Form: 1321-21

Fagan⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| C

2/1

Triple winning pointer who lost his way after finishing runner-up in the 2016 Albert Bartlett. Made a successful chasing debut here in July (3m) when having the race won when left clear at the last. That stamina will be an asset in this test.

Form: 1224/P-1

Ballyandy¹⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| BF

8/13

Top-class gelding who can count the Champion Bumper and the Betfair Hurdle amongst his career highlights. Embarks on a chasing career in a race his trainer has landed four times and with conditions to suit.

Form: 4/23214-

Mr Monochrome²³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: J M Jefferson

16/1

Hurdling form leaves him with plenty to find with these and his best efforts have come on better ground. Earns some respect as trainer has won this twice from three attempts and had a double here yesterday.

Form: 123123-

Forecasts

Ballyandy (8/13), Fagan (2/1), Mr Monochrome (16/1), Chitu (18/1)

There are some risks in expecting BALLYANDY to be ready to score on his chasing debut having been absent since his fourth in the Supreme Novices in March. However, he has the only proven form in ground as bad as this and the 6lb he receives from Fagan compensates for the fitness advantage he concedes. The pair are rated equal on BHA ratings and Fagan has already proven his ability over these obstacles. As a triple winning point-to-pointer he looks destined to win more races over fences but his best form has come on better surfaces. Chitu and Mr Monochrome are both useful in their own right but both have shown a preference for quicker conditions and their form does not match that of the principals.