Racing Partnership Novices' Chase

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 6m 27.15s

Sam Red^p1,t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 134| CD

6/1

Two wins in seven starts over fences (both good ground), including over C&D in October. Has taken a few steps backwards since in more testing conditions but the drying ground here is in his favour. Cheekpieces introduced.

Form: 1F42P5

Captain Buck's^p,t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 126

2/1

Outclassed in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham but had previously placed in four of his six chases at around this trip on good ground or softer. No obvious reason why he shouldn't be heavily involved as he searches for a first chase win.

Form: 033220

Iskrabob¹³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr Oswald Wedmore⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs D Grissell| D

100/1

Won a maiden point-to-point two years ago but form in that sphere was very indifferent and he was pulled up over hurdles in November when sent off 150/1. Hard to make a credible case for on first chase start.

Form: U2BU1/P

Native Gamut²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Lee Edwards| T: A Ralph| D

25/1

Won a point-to-point at the seventh attempt last spring but only flickers of encouragement in a couple of small-field novice chases so far. Will be a better proposition when sent handicapping further down the line.

Form: 422/1-33

Step Back⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: M Bradstock| OR: 124| BF| D

8/13

Multiple winning pointer who bagged a 3m maiden hurdle at Fontwell last spring before a tilt at the Albert Bartlett. Not beaten far in two decent chases at Chepstow and Sandown and best opportunity to date on better ground that will suit.

Form: 1/119-23

Non-Runners

Remind Me Later¹³³

Weight: 11-4| Age: 9

T: G & J Moore J: Joshua Moore

Forecasts

Step Back (8/13), Captain Buck's (2/1), Sam Red (6/1), Remind Me Later (13/2), Native Gamut (25/1), Iskrabob (100/1)

It's not hard to make out a credible case for the two previous chase winners in this line-up, Sam Reid and Remind Me Later but any value may lie with the unpenalised duo Captain's Buck and STEP BACK who have each shaped well over fences without winning. Of that pair, marginal preference is for the less exposed latter who had a couple of subsequent winners in arrears when finishing a runner-up to Tanit River on ground softer than ideal at Sandown last time.