Bernard Hart's Finishing Strongly 70th Birthday Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:58 | Winning time: 4m 6.3s

Dark Mahler²²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 105

4/1

Placed in a point-to-point and well supported for last run over hurdles. Reappears with stable in much better form than when we last saw him and probably much better than we have seen so far.

Form: 3/P64-

Its A Sting^h¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 105

11/4

Sole success came in a Market Rasen bumper on good ground in March 2014. Had just eight runs since and return from over 18 months off when finishing third at Bangor. Makes mistakes and got no further than the first last time.

Form: 2PP5/3F

Legal Ok^h³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: S Edmunds| OR: 100

4/1

Dromahane point-to-point winner (3m good) in November 2016 who has led a varied career since joining his current connections. Still lightly raced under rules, but hasn't exactly impressed in terms of jumping (hurdles or fences) lately.

Form: 839-8PP

Cervin^t1⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 99

10/1

Showed modest ability in French bumpers and has done little in two starts over here to convince he is up to this task.

Form: 547-5

Fingers Crossed^t1¹⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R P McLernon| T: P R Webber| OR: 97| D

7/1

One of the more experienced chasers in this but still prone to errors. Best effort came as runner-up here in January when mistakes proved costly. Handles quick conditions but best form has come on softer ground.

Form: 76282-4

Go On Henry^p,t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr Ed Bailey⁽⁷⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 92| C

4/1

Came from a long way back to land an amateur's race here over 2m4f. Aided that day by the departure of a strong travelling leader three out and a 6lb rise seems harsh. Shorter trip is a further concern but this is a weak contest.

Form: 45U-341

Robin Why Not^h1³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Danny Cook| T: N J Hawke| OR: 89

18/1

Signs of ability over hurdles earlier this year but failed to complete on three of his last four starts over hurdles. Tongue tie and cheekpieces worn last time out are replaced with a hood for today's chasing debut.

Form: 46PP-8P

Forecasts

Its A Sting (11/4), Dark Mahler (4/1), Legal Ok (4/1), Go On Henry (4/1), Fingers Crossed (7/1), Cervin (10/1), Robin Why Not (18/1)

It is hard to enthuse over many of these given their profiles. Dark Mahler catches the eye for his in form yard and given his scope to show more. This trip may be on the short side, a remark which also applies to Go On Henry. FINGERS CROSSED takes risks at his fences but he does tend to get round and his C&D second looks good in the context of this, particularly off a much lower mark.