Clifford & Martin Firth Memorial Novices' Chase

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 11.85s

Acdc^h¹⁹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: C Grant| OR: 112

16/1

Won a maiden hurdle at Hexham and has run respectably since in a handicap at Ayr upped in trip. Now goes over fences for the first time over a trip that looked to stretch him over hurdles up against two useful rivals.

Form: 5P2615-

Big River^t²¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 144| C

11/5

A winner of three of his six hurdle races his last win in that sphere came on his last start here in a 3m2f handicap hurdle off a mark of 132. He may well have more to offer over fences but all his best form has come on softer ground than this.

Form: 1/21521-

Give Me A Copper^t¹⁹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 146| D

30/100

Disappointed when made favourite for a Grade 2 Doncaster novice but bounced back to his best when taking an Ayr novice over 2m4f. His trainer looks keen to launch his chasing career having impressed in his sole Irish point-to-point.

Form: 11/161-

Mahler Bay²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁵⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 76

100/1

Overall record reads 0/10 over fences and hopelessly outclassed in this at the weights.

Form: 3-475P0

Under The Red Sky^p¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 82

80/1

Low grade handicap chases are the best place for him but his record in that sphere doesn't inspire and he's out of his depth in this company.

Form: P5223-P

Forecasts

Give Me A Copper (30/100), Big River (11/5), Acdc (16/1), Under The Red Sky (80/1), Mahler Bay (100/1)

This looks to be a straight head-to-head between Big River and GIVE ME A COPPER with the latter looking to have slightly more progression in him with the ground a little more in his favour. Acdc looks scheduled to pick up the minor place with the other two looking outclassed in this company.