Ryman Stationery Cheltenham Business Club Novices' Chase

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 6m 21.3s

Black Corton^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150

5/2

Has won four of his five starts over fences so far and was only narrowly beaten in the others as odds-on favourite. This requires another step up but he remains progressive.

Form: 4-12111

Ballymalin²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 138| D

11/2

Useful novice hurdler (fifth in a Grade 1), who won on chase debut at Worcester last time out. This looks harder but he can't be ruled out.

Form: 11375-1

Fagan²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| D

13/8

Drove Ballyandy all the way at Perth last time out over a trip that may have been short enough for him and should find this easier, especially back up in trip.

Form: 224/P-12

Beat That¹¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: D J Mullins| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145| BF| D

7/1

Was second to Fagan at Perth last time when falling at the last, but was odds-on favourite there and as a Grade 1 hurdle winner, retains significant potential over fences.

Form: 116/6-2F

Sizing Tennessee¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Cooper| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 139

7/1

One of the more experienced novice chasers in the field, he was a well-beaten second to Black Corton at Newton Abbot last time out, and it's difficult to see him reversing that form.

Form: 0/234P-2

Forecasts

Fagan (13/8), Black Corton (5/2), Ballymalin (11/2), Sizing Tennessee (7/1), Beat That (7/1)

A few decent chasing prospects here, but FAGAN should be able to get back to winning ways. Beaten only by Ballyandy, last year's Betfair Hurdle winner and the 2016 Champion Bumper winner last time, he made that rival work hard for victory and, returning to staying trips, would seem to be the one to beat. Black Corton has impressed over fences so far but must concede weight all round, while there should be more to come from Beat That.