Totetrifecta Chase (a Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 7m 29.54s

Progress Drive⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 128| C

1/1

Was useful over hurdles and has made a promising start over fences, bettering his Carlisle debut (2m4f, soft) here over 2m4½f (heavy) last time. Should stay 3m and if he can fence more fluently he has the ability to win this.

Form: 1415-42

Blue Empyrean^p¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: R K Watson| OR: 123

9/2

Form has picked up again since joining this stable and switching to chasing. Has won his last two at Naas (2m, soft/heavy) and Down Royal (2m4f, heavy), both in handicaps. 12lb higher than latest win today, so needs significant improvement to cope.

Form: 383211

Lochnell⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: I A Duncan| OR: 113| CD

13/8

Standing dish at this venue, having recorded all six of her wins here. The last two of those have been over C&D on heavy ground. Latest 5lb rise looks fair and if she can jump as well this time she will take some beating.

Form: 8-44211

Forecasts

Progress Drive (1/1), Lochnell (13/8), Blue Empyrean (9/2)

This probably lays between Progress Drive and LOCHNELL, with the vote going to the six-time course winner. Iain Duncan's mare jumped with more fluency when scoring last time and although she will need some improvement from 5lb higher, she could find it. Progress Drive is probably open to more improvement now stepped up to this trip, though he still has to prove that he sees it out and if he doesn't jump better than he did here last time he may well come up short.