totesport.com Towton Novices' Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 6m 52.47s

Ballyoptic³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 150| D

5/2

Former Grade 1 winning hurdler. Off the mark at the first attempt over fences at Exeter (3m, soft) in November. Ran to a similar level next time, but well held in Grade 1 at Kempton when last seen. Clear chance at the weights if he can bounce back.

Form: P5-5124

Ami Desbois^t³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 141| CD

8/1

Has a 100% record at this venue and comes into this on a hat-trick after wins over an inadequate 1m7½f on his chase debut and then over 2m3½f last time. Stiffer test of stamina will suit. Goes well on soft but still a bit to prove on heavy.

Form: 151-11P

Captain Chaos^b⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 144| CD

4/1

Fell at sixth in this last year when a 6-1 chance. Took a bit of warming up over fences, but has won his last two at Aintree (3m1f, soft) and here over C&D (soft) when last seen in November (both in blinkers). Contender.

Form: 43F-611

Shades Of Midnight³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Thomson

9/1

Stays 3m2f over hurdles and has won on heavy ground. Not without promise on chase debut at Catterick (2m4f, soft), though refused in attritional conditions when very tired at Haydock. Plenty to prove on first start for this trainer.

Form: 543P-5R

Vintage Clouds²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 140| BF| C

5/2

Has plenty of chasing experience, though just the one win at Aintree (3m1f, good to soft) in October. Stays a lot further, acts on heavy and with a typically positive ride from his pilot he will ask plenty of questions of his opponents. Claims.

Form: 3F7-124

Pearl Royale³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: N J Hawke| OR: 137

6/1

Showed improvement to win her last hurdle start at Southwell in the spring and bettered that on chase debut at Wincanton (2m4f, heavy) on Boxing Day. Very likely so see this out and if she can improve again she is not ruled out.

Form: 52221-1

Forecasts

Ballyoptic (5/2), Vintage Clouds (5/2), Captain Chaos (4/1), Pearl Royale (6/1), Ami Desbois (8/1), Shades Of Midnight (9/1)

A decent field has assembled for this Grade 2 event and in the hope that his pilot tries to take them on from the front VINTAGE CLOUDS is given the tentative vote. His strike rate over fences has to be a concern, but experience could still count for plenty here and we know that he stays at least 3m4f and acts in the mud. Ballyoptic is the class act on paper, but he was disappointing last time and the stable's runners are just a bit quiet at present. Ami Desbois is feared given his tremendous record here, though he has to prove himself on ground this deep, while Captain Chaos is now going the right way and along with Pearl Royale, is very much respected.