Come Racing New Year's Day Beginners' Chase

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 4m 55.06s

Alzammaar¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 136| D

6/4

A three time hurdles winner for Warren Greatrex, he was picked up for £20,000, and was beaten ½L on his stable debut (hurdles) here in January. Flattered by his proximity to Brio Conti on Carlisle fences debut latest, but that's still strong form.

Form: 70250-2

Divine Spear²¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: N J Henderson| OR: 133| BF

8/11

The handicapper has slowly got his measure over hurdles hence the switch to fences, but he's a three time career winner who brings solid hurdles form to the table. A rare Catterick runner for the yard, but with the North's top man in the saddle.

Form: 8/13225-

Ramonex¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Cook| T: R Hobson| OR: 120

20/1

Rated quite a few pounds inferior to a couple of these runners over hurdles, and struggled when set a similar task on his chasing debut at Warwick a fortnight ago (2m good to soft). An improved effort looks the main objective.

Form: 6F51-25

Top Cat Dj^t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 68

250/1

A 28 race maiden under rules (0 from 23 over fences), and rated just 68, so has no chance whatsoever in this contest barring accidents.

Form: P-PPP04

Valgor Du Ronceray⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Finian O'Toole⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 124

18/1

Previously with respected trainers in Ireland (Tony Martin and Joseph O'Brien) and his new trainer will no doubt recoup his £13,000 outlay with time. However, fenced poorly on his chasing debut at Wetherby on Saturday (unseated rider). Not today.

Form: F2U31U

Forecasts

Divine Spear (8/11), Alzammaar (6/4), Valgor Du Ronceray (18/1), Ramonex (20/1), Top Cat Dj (250/1)

Barring accidents, effectively a match between the chasing newcomer Divine Spear and the race-fit ALZAMMAAR. The Nicky Henderson trained runner performed well over hurdles, including when beaten 3½L by Brio Conti in the 2m5f Silver Plate at Kempton in March. He will be rightly popular with Brian Hughes in the saddle for a yard that is 1 from 4 (25%) over jumps here since 1998. However, Alzammaar was an equally adept hurdler who has course hurdles form for his new handler Sam England, and has the all important advantage of chasing experience; albeit a slightly flattered short-head second to the aforementioned Brio Conti at Carlisle (2m4f) early last week.