Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Novices' Chase

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 4m 59.0s

Alcala^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 152| D

7/4

Cleaned up over the summer winning five on the bounce over fences, including the Listed Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July (2m5f good). Slipped up on the bend at Chepstow a fortnight ago when tackling Finian's Oscar.

Form: 11111U

Double Treasure^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 137| D

9/1

Notched a hat-trick of handicaps when making all and dispatching Marquis of Carabas by 8L at Worcester last month (2m4f good to soft). Back in novice company now with conditions ideal, but tackling much stronger rivals.

Form: 2751-11

Midnight Shot³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 134| C| D

16/1

Recorded a third success over fences when winning by a nose at Hexham in April (2m4f good), but struggled in stronger events thereafter. However, back to form in a lesser event when taking a 2m4f handicap at Uttoxeter latest (good to soft).

Form: 111051

Two Taffs^p,t¹⁹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: D N Russell| T: D Skelton| OR: 149| D

3/1

Beaten under 1½L when third of 20 to Tully East in the 2m4f Listed novices handicap chase at the Festival in March, and rounded off the season beating Theinval by 3L at Ayr in April. Much respected, but others with the benefit of a recent run.

Form: 722331-

Cultivator²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

4/1

Fair to say he hasn't fulfilled his obvious potential just yet, but no doubting this three time career winner has ability. The forecast ground conditions are ideal, but the others all have chasing experience, so that leaves him vulnerable.

Form: 213618-

Tintern Theatre¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 137

13/2

Both of his successes over hurdles have come at Ludlow, most latterly over 2m5½f in April when beating Town Parks by 8L. In deep on his chasing debut against Finian's Oscar recently (second), but others far stronger again today.

Form: 42501-2

Forecasts

Alcala (7/4), Two Taffs (3/1), Cultivator (4/1), Tintern Theatre (13/2), Double Treasure (9/1), Midnight Shot (16/1)

Two Taffs ended last season on an upward curve, but returns to action against rivals who will all be race-fit, so he'll need to bring his 'A game' to the table today. ALCALA had a nasty experience when serving it up to Finian's Oscar at Chepstow a fortnight ago, and whilst it's a slight concern as to how he'll react to that unfortunate incident, his claims are otherwise compelling. He has proved versatile in terms of ground and trip over the summer with a clear career highlight being his Market Rasen Summer Plate success in late July, and his trainer has found him a good opportunity in this grade, in a race in which he concedes weight to just two of his rivals despite all of those previous fencing successes.