Alex Donaldson Memorial Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 5m 19.70s

Pot Committed³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: I Jardine| OR: 121| C

12/1

2-2 at this venue over hurdles last season (both on good) and stayed the equivalent trip here in that discipline. So far failed to get to grips with handicapping and now goes chasing from 4lb lower mark with a bit to prove.

Form: 3911-PP

Crest^t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr Joe Wright⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 119| D

16/1

Has been unable to add to his debut win in a Navan maiden hurdle (2m4f, soft/heavy) for Gordon Elliott two years ago. Handles any ground and ran some good races at this trip over fences in Ireland. Claims after a pipe-opener with yard in good form.

Form: 5223-P7

Mullaghmurphy Blue^t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: A E Lynch| T: J T R Dreaper| OR: 113| CD

11/8

Irish raider who is 2-2 at the track in novices' chases this season and trounced his field over C&D last time (good). Up 10lb for that and on slightly slower ground, but should give another very good account and likely to be tough to beat.

Form: 433121

Middlebrow^t⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 110

11/4

Was a 10L over a Catterick handicap chase (2m3f, good to soft) on just his second start over fences, for which he went up 9lb. Was still going well when brought down back there last time and should be a leading player again today.

Form: 25-841B

Martiloo^t⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: B S Hughes| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 110

5/1

Broke her duck at the 15th attempt when winning a Perth handicap chase (2m, good to soft) in August. Ran well at Kelso in better grade next time and was going well when unseating at Ayr latest. Trip fine and should be competitive with clear round.

Form: 23212U

Boy's On Tour¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 95

12/1

Irish point-to-point winner who is 0-5 under rules, including being well beaten at this track in three of his four hurdle starts. Can't rule out improvement now switched to chasing, though others preferred today.

Form: 1-4P559

Forecasts

Mullaghmurphy Blue (11/8), Middlebrow (11/4), Martiloo (5/1), Boy's On Tour (12/1), Pot Committed (12/1), Crest (16/1)

An interesting contest in prospect and it is not easy to rule out most of the field. Pot Committed clearly enjoys it here, though he needs to show signs of a revival before he can be put up as a selection and preference is for another with a good record here in MULLAGHMURPHY BLUE, who jumped well when an easy winner of a similar contest recently and can defy a 10lb rise. Middlebrow may have been able to defy a 9lb rise of his own at Catterick last time but was unfortunate there. He gets another chance back up in trip and also has claims. Martiloo is more exposed but can get competitive and Crest is very interesting with the Micky Hammond team in good form and he could leave the form of his stable debut well behind him.