Colin Baldwin 86th Birthday Novices' Chase

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 3m 52.34s

Ami Desbois^t²²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| C

11/10

Useful hurdler who won over 3m (soft) in February from a mark of 137. Last seen making the most of his novices' status at Newcastle in April. Chase debut today and even though trip is short of his best a clear round will make him tough to beat.

Form: 123151-

Cousin Oscar²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 122

15/2

Made improvement over hurdles to win back-to-back novices' contest at Bangor in February/March (soft/good to soft). Handicapper took his measure in that sphere and after a recent pipe-opener he switches to chasing, which could yield improvement.

Form: 211P-46

Mortens Leam²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: Mrs P Sly

33/1

Placed in several handicap hurdles, including two here earlier in the year, though remains a maiden after 11 starts. Half-brother to three chase winners, so may do better now jumping fences. Stable has already had one shock winner here this season.

Form: 0032-34

Rapid Fritz^t⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 89

200/1

0-20 so far and plummeting in the handicap over hurdles after four heavy recent defeats. Dam a half-sister to a couple of chase winners, but if this relative has that sort of ability he has yet to reveal it.

Form: 80P586

Valgor Du Ronceray⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 124

16/1

Won a bumper on his last start for Tony Martin in 2015 and repeated that with a hurdles win on his last start for Joseph O'Brien in August. Since changed hands for £13,000 and now goes chasing for new stable. Interesting and market check advised.

Form: 3F2U31

Whatduhavtoget³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 128

11/8

Won a Ludlow novices' hurdle (2m5f, soft) in March and was not far away from a mark of 127 in a handicap next time. Never really got competitive on her Chepstow return, but that could a been a prep for this switch to chasing. Could go well.

Form: 20212-0

Forecasts

Ami Desbois (11/10), Whatduhavtoget (11/8), Cousin Oscar (15/2), Valgor Du Ronceray (16/1), Mortens Leam (33/1), Rapid Fritz (200/1)

An interesting contest here and the vote goes to AMI DESBOIS, who has won around here, handles cut in the ground and will be well-versed ahead of this chase debut. Whatduhavtoget fits a similar profile and in receipt of 7lb she is not taken on lightly on her first start over fences. Valgor Du Ronceray should be very competitive and Cousin Oscar does not have much to find to get competitive. Mortens Leam needs to find a fair bit, but with Pam Sly already having upset a few apple carts here this season with a surprise winner, you couldn't confidently rule out her representative.