Racing UK In Stunning HD 'Confined' Novices' Chase

Off time: 13:06 | Winning time: 5m 31.40s

De Dollar Man³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: L P Aspell| T: Evan Williams| OR: 139| D

4/5

Largely progressive so far in all the National Hunt disciplines. Beaten on chase debut when he didn't stay 3m, he dropped back to this sort of trip at Exeter (soft) last time and won on handicap debut. 5lb rise not insurmountable and he has claims.

Form: 1139-41

Hogan's Height^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: R Johnson| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 123

4/1

Broke his chasing duck at the third attempt at Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft) last time. That looks solid form and with just a 1lb nudge up, the handicapper has given him a sniff of a successful follow-up.

Form: 26-2721

Mortens Leam²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Kielan Woods| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 123

6/1

Had often been bridesmaid before breaking his duck under rules at the 13th attempt (second chase) at Fakenham (2m5f, soft) by an easy 13L. Handicapper did not miss that and now asks plenty of him, with a whopping 14lb rise, but can't rule him out.

Form: 32-3421

Midnight Merlot⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Ian Popham| T: Noel Williams

50/1

Showed a bit of ability in novices' hurdles last season and appears to handle soft/heavy ground. Pulled up on reappearance at Southwell and hard to enthuse about his chance on chase debut after that.

Form: 0/4384-P

Quietly⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 120

6/1

Placed in four novices' hurdles, two of them here at up to 3m. Sent off at 3-1 for chase debut at Sedgefield in November. Led until jinked/ran out at sixth. Drops in trip and officially has a bit to find, but clear round should see him in the mix.

Form: 3U32-4R

Miss Amelia¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: M Walford

66/1

By far her best effort was here over 2m (good to soft) in November, when 4L fourth on a novices' hurdle at 66-1. Well held back here in handicap hurdle last time and now makes chase debut. Full-sister won over fences at up to 2m3f, so check market.

Form: 80545

Non-Runners

Dark Valley¹⁷

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: Micky Hammond J: Finian O'Toole

Forecasts

De Dollar Man (4/5), Hogan's Height (4/1), Quietly (6/1), Mortens Leam (6/1), Dark Valley (25/1), Midnight Merlot (50/1), Miss Amelia (66/1)

DE DOLLAR MAN is very much the class horse in the field and remains on the up. A 5lb rise for his Exeter win looks within his compass and he is taken to follow-up. Pam Sly does well here and it was good to see Mortens Leam break his duck for her at Fakenham last time. Things now get tougher from this mark and he may again have to settle for a supporting role. Hogan's Height has a solid profile and the champ on board, so you wouldn't want to write him off and Quietly represents a stable that has farmed this track for decades and he is likely to know more about what is required of him after blotting his copybook at Sedgefield.