Eggy Novices' Chase

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 3m 50.20s

Diego Du Charmil^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 147| CD

10/11

Made a good impression when winning on his chase debut and he looks as though he may well be able to better his smart hurdling form over fences. He jumped soundly and moved smoothly through the race and looks an exciting novice prospect.

Form: 19010-1

Space Oddity^h¹⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 136| D

7/1

His hurdles form would not have matched that of the likely market leader (Diego Du Charmil) but he did dismiss a pair of fairly useful hurdlers on his chase debut. Had something to spare on that occasion but does have an absence to overcome now.

Form: 411P2-1

Billy My Boy^p⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: C J Down| OR: 105| C| D

100/1

Looks up against things here at the weights and would be some 30lb plus better off in a handicap. This three-time winning hurdler looks up against it on his chasing debut in this field.

Form: 1-35278

Shantou Rock^t¹⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| BF| D

7/2

Ludlow and a 2m trip there saw him to good effect last year when he won there three times and he had a decent handicap hurdle at his mercy when falling on his last start. Back from a break now this strong traveller will enjoy this sharp track on his chase debut.

Form: 21211F-

The Unit¹⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 142| D

4/1

Useful over hurdles last year he won three times over trips at least 3f than he has to travel here and finished off the season with a Grade 1 placed effort over 2m. Makes his chasing debut here although he may just find this test a little too sharp.

Form: 311213-

I See You Well¹⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: J McGrath| T: J W Mullins| OR: 130| D

25/1

Makes his chasing debut here after a break having been successful on his last start bouncing back to wining form at Plumpton. That win came over 2m4f and he may well find this all happening too quickly as he returns to a 2m trip.

Form: 12024-1

Forecasts

Diego Du Charmil (10/11), Shantou Rock (7/2), The Unit (4/1), Space Oddity (7/1), I See You Well (25/1), Billy My Boy (100/1)

A decent little novice chase and it’s quite a surprise that Paul Nicholls hasn’t won this race since 2012 given his record around here with his novice chasers. DIEGO DU CHARMIL certainly gives him a good chance of going some way to putting the record right after his impressive C&D debut win last month. Three others in the field were useful over hurdles with The Unit having the highest rating of the remainder but he may need further than this 2m and Shantou Rock from a yard that is going well is preferred with Space Oddity adding to the strength in depth in this race; he could put his debut effort to good use here.