Kalahari King Beginners' Chase

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 4m 2.90s

Hell's Kitchen^h1³⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: B J Geraghty| T: H Fry| OR: 139

6/4

Useful novice hurdler who always looked the type to make a chaser. Proved too keen on first start over fences and that remains a worry having been sidelined a year. Hood goes on for first time and trainer 5-13 with chasers here.

Form: 312/3-

Kimberlite Candy¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R P McLernon| T: T Lacey| OR: 132

33/1

Point-to-point winner who kicked off with successive wins over hurdles, looking a useful prospect in the process. Made chasing bow two weeks ago when jumping well but lacking the pace to figure. Drop to two miles a clear negative.

Form: 111P-5

Minella For Me^t²⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George

40/1

Point-to-point winner who should do better for the switch to the larger obstacles. Hurdles form leaves him looking outclassed at this level.

Form: 12/54F-

River Wylde²¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| BF| D

10/11

Proved himself to be a top-class novice hurdler and if his technique is as good over fences as it was over hurdles, then he could go to the top. Has plenty of speed and ground conditions are perfect.

Form: 011135-

War Sound⁶²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| D

7/1

Landed the 2015 Swinton Hurdle and was the subject of a gamble that went astray in the 2016 Betfair Hurdle. Career has been hampered by injuries but long considered the type to do even better over fences and stable took this in 2015.

Form: 151910/

Forecasts

River Wylde (10/11), Hell's Kitchen (6/4), War Sound (7/1), Kimberlite Candy (33/1), Minella For Me (40/1)

Hell's Kitchen is an exciting prospect but he needs to settle better and he could prove too exuberant on this first run for a year. RIVER WYLDE was not far off the pick of last year's novice hurdlers and he showed himself to be a nimble jumper. Placed in a point-to-point he has a lot to recommend him. War Sound is a big chasing type who proved the highest rated of these over hurdles. This first run in 21 months will likely be needed and rain would be a benefit.