16:00 Plumpton

Monday 23 October 2017

All14:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:30

Gerald Karn-Smith Memorial Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 5m 11.90s

Theo's Charm^p²²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: N J Gifford| OR: 134| C

3/1

Hurdles winner who has been placed in a couple of outings over fences, including when second of three to Theinval at this track in December. Ran a fair race over hurdles when last seen at the Cheltenham Festival and is respected on his return.

Form: 222730-

Adrrastos³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 132| C

13/2

Made all to win his first two starts over fences, but went up 14lb and could only finish third of seven at Worcester last time. Jockey who won both chase races on him is back on board, so he may be able to bounce back.

Form: 1-33113

Crystal Lad¹⁹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 130

7/1

Improved during his novice hurdle campaign and ran particularly well in a valuable event at Sandown in March. Well beaten at Aintree off this mark, but could do better over fences and is much respected on his chasing debut.

Form: 263140-

Ridgeway Flyer^h1,t¹⁸⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130

7/2

Trained by Harry Fry when rounding off last season with a couple of hurdles wins. Makes his chasing debut in a first-time hood for the former champion trainer, who has been in fine form this month.

Form: 1/45211-

Resolution Bay¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 128| BF

8/1

Promising young hurdler, but bred to be a chaser and top connections waste no time in getting him started over the bigger obstacles. Ran well over timber earlier this month and could be a leading contender on his chasing debut.

Form: 5F1-523

Accord¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 126

11/4

Winning point-to-pointer who was marking time over hurdles before making a winning chasing debut at Fontwell under today's pilot. He jumped soundly that day and has to enter calculations, albeit in a much-better contest.

Form: 1/2333-1

Apple Of Our Eye²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 123

14/1

One win from eight starts over hurdles, he is another who makes his chasing debut. May find a few of his rivals too classy.

Form: 4/239P-3

Non-Runners

Miss Crick⁵¹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: A King J: Wayne Hutchinson

Ballinure⁵¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: N J Henderson J: J McGrath

Octagon³⁸²

Weight: 10-13| Age: 7

T: H Whittington J: Harry Bannister

Forecasts

Accord (11/4), Theo's Charm (3/1), Ridgeway Flyer (7/2), Adrrastos (13/2), Crystal Lad (7/1), Resolution Bay (8/1), Octagon (8/1), Ballinure (10/1), Miss Crick (14/1), Apple Of Our Eye (14/1)

A cracking contest in which several of the country's top yards are represented. Ballinure has looked good on a couple of occasions, but did run badly over fences once, which is a worry, while Accord shaped well on his chasing debut and can go well. Octagon, Ridgeway Flyer, Miss Crick and Resolution Bay are all respected on their chasing debuts, but the choice is another debutant, CRYSTAL LAD, who was progressive last season and looks the type to do well at this game. Top weight Theo's Charm and dual chase winner Adrrastos cannot be ruled out.