Brian Ellison Racing Novices' Chase

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 4m 3.53s

Cobra De Mai^p,t¹¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 134| BF| D

9/1

In cracking form before latest effort when pulled up suddenly at Stratford. Safe to assume connections have go to the bottom of the issue but notable that the gelding has shot up 18lb in the rating of late and now has a stiff test at the weights.

Form: 42-111P

Eyes Of A Tiger^h⁷⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 130| C| D

22/1

Won his first two starts over fences in pleasing style (even though the second was in a match race with just two runners). Found out by jumping errors last time though and won't get away with any sloppiness at these notoriously tricky fences.

Form: 550-117

Western Miller^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 133

13/8

In great heart over hurdles before making a bloodlessly successful switch to fences at Stratford last month. The gelding created a very favorable impression that day and will hard to keep tabs with if in the same frame of mind.

Form: 411541

Bordeaux Bill¹⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| C

15/8

Useful hurdler but had a very stiff test in a Grade 1 at Aintree when last seen out. He's better than he showed that day but still has to prove himself equally adept over fences. Stable capable of having him primed, so worth noting in the betting.

Form: 5/1311P-

Jacks Last Hope^v⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: C Grant| C| D

7/2

Useful over hurdles - won three of his last four starts in that sphere, so highly respected. Jumping is usually fluent over timber, so reasons to expect he'll adapt to fences. The betting can guide as to expectations first time up.

Form: 3P1-151

Ninepointsixthree¹³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathan England| T: S England

150/1

Long-standing maiden and form only modest at best. Off since May and plenty to prove now he tackles fences for the first time in public.

Form: 224R-55

Non-Runners

Oh So Gigolo¹³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: Kenneth Slack J: Robert Hogg

Forecasts

Western Miller (13/8), Bordeaux Bill (15/8), Jacks Last Hope (7/2), Cobra De Mai (9/1), Eyes Of A Tiger (22/1), Oh So Gigolo (50/1), Ninepointsixthree (150/1)

There is likely to be plenty more to come from WESTERN MILLER, who bolted up the first time over fences and may have a lot more to offer. Cobra De Mai has taken to fences well and barring an obvious blemish when something was amiss last time out, he sets a good standard for the time being. Support for Bordeaux Bill would noteworthy as he is a very useful hurdler. He make a touch more appeal as threat than Eyes Of A Tiger, who showed very little respect for the fences during his latest start.