Robert Price Builders Merchants Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 5m 54.7s

Pure Vision^t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 122

11/4

Fell too early to say how he might have fared on his chase debut at Exeter (3m, good to soft) recently. Sent off at 8-1 there and this dual hurdles winner (at up to 2m7f) should be very competitive from this mark if able to put in a clear round.

Form: 01241-F

Old Salt^t1²³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 120

7/1

Won a Ludlow maiden hurdle a year ago (2m, soft) but has struggled with what the handicapper has set him. Returns from a seven-month break dropped slightly in trip for his chase debut and a market check is suggested to gauge any confidence.

Form: 315435-

A Bold Move^p⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: D N Russell| T: Christian Williams| OR: 120| BF

10/1

Placed in all three starts over hurdles for current yard, two of them here at up to 2m4f, though all on good ground. Now makes his chasing debut over a trip that should suit, given the testing ground. Would not surprise if he is in the mix.

Form: 64/42-23

Champagne Chaser⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 115| D

6/1

Dual winner over hurdles, the latest being two starts ago at Hexham (2m4f, good to soft) from a mark of 108. Ran well enough from this mark back at that track on his recent chase debut and looks a player again today.

Form: 9534-13

Zalgarry⁵¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Josh Wall⁽⁵⁾| T: A Whitehead| OR: 115| C

22/1

Has only had one start since winning here over hurdles (2m4f, good to soft) in June last year and gets in for his British chase debut on the same winning mark. Fell on sole try over fences in France, but if fully wound up he couldn't be ruled out.

Form: 204/712-

Lord Bryan²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 110

7/2

Stayed 3m1½f on soft ground over hurdles, though he made the frame just once from seven starts in that discipline. Half-brother to a winner at this trip over fences and not badly treated for this chase debut, so improved effort not ruled out.

Form: 542P-P6

Star Tackle²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| OR: 109| BF

11/4

Won an Irish point-to-point last year and ran reasonably well over hurdles without threatening to win. Sent off as 4-1 co-favourite for his chase debut at Ayr last month and was leading/going well when unseating. Claims granted a clear round.

Form: 31/553-U

Forecasts

Pure Vision (11/4), Star Tackle (11/4), Lord Bryan (7/2), Champagne Chaser (6/1), Old Salt (7/1), A Bold Move (10/1), Zalgarry (22/1)

Pure Vision is an interesting contender and if he can get round here then a win would not surprise, but we saw a bit more of STAR TACKLE before he departed at Ayr on his chase debut and he is taken to score this time. A Bold Move and Champagne Chaser are perhaps the other pair who are likely to be thereabouts on this occasion.