Smarkets Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 5m 14.20s

Bentelimar²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 136| D

3/1

A winner over fences when trained in Ireland over this trip he's not run badly two badly in his two starts for his current yard. The 2m he ran over last time looked a little short for him although his performance did suggest that he could win off this sort of mark.

Form: 3U2603

Exitas²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 133

8/1

Showed a fine run of form at the backend of last year taking three handicaps over fences with the last coming off a mark of 123. He's run well enough since (once over hurdles) but is rather summed up by his mark now which looks a tough one 10lb above his last winning one.

Form: F11382

Terrefort⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137

6/4

Connections have had a very good season already and are always to be respected with their French recruits. This one is already a chase/hurdles winner and he finished a respectable third in a Listed chase last time out; now makes his GB debut off a workable mark.

Form: 26-1313

The Boss's Dream³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King| OR: 127

12/1

A three-time winner over hurdles he's been fairly lightly raced of late and this will be his chasing debut. Must have needed the run on his reappearance this run should reveal more having slipped 3lb below his last winning mark.

Form: 411P7/6

Bobo Mac³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: J E Moore| T: T Symonds| OR: 127| D

5/1

Has shown some fairly useful form over hurdles and now makes the switch to chasing having shown up well in handicaps over hurdles. 4lb higher here than when last seen over hurdles (fell after travelling well) and of interest if he takes to fences.

Form: 221-84F

Centurius²⁸⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 120| C

20/1

Really looked to be getting his act together when winning at Ludlow last March off a 5lb lower mark but failed to follow that run up which was rather disappointing. Now returns from a break going chasing for the first time off a mark 5lb higher than his last winning one.

Form: 462154-

Accord³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: T Scudamore| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 120

12/1

Left his hurdles form well behind when making a winning start over fences at Fontwell off a 2lb lower mark (strong in the betting). Has failed to back that form up though in three subsequent runs and faces a tough task here to get back on track.

Form: 33-1496

Forecasts

Terrefort (6/4), Bentelimar (3/1), Bobo Mac (5/1), Exitas (8/1), The Boss's Dream (12/1), Accord (12/1), Centurius (20/1)

All three of the chasing debutantes has something to offer with The Boss’s Dream and Bobo Mac looking the most interesting of the pair the former having slipped in the handicap from his last winning hurdles mark. Bentelimar will be more at home over this trip having shaped well over 2m last time out but giving weight to TERREFORT looks to be a tough ask who hails from last year’s winning stable of Nicky Henderson and looks to be a progressive sort. Exitas has been in fine form but the increased mark looks to have ruled him out of the equation here.