Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 4m 8.24s

Delegate^t⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 141| BF| D

40/1

Wind surgery and a break saw him return to form over fences at Musselburgh when beating an odds-on favourite. Connections attempted to exploit a lenient hurdles mark last time (unsuccessfully) and set a tough test here.

Form: 61P314

Diego Du Charmil^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143| BF| D

5/1

Smart over hurdles he's already produced similar form over fences (won on debut). Not scored since then but was very unlucky last time when falling having travelled well (jumped well to that point); looks up to a task like this.

Form: 10-132F

Kauto Riko³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R T Dunne| T: T R Gretton| OR: 137| D

25/1

Had some decent form over hurdles but has quickly bettered those runs switched fences. Finished first past the post in all his starts but was controversially demoted to second last time; this will prove a far tougher test than he's faced so far.

Form: 123-11D

Petit Mouchoir³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 157| D

4/5

The best of these over hurdles, he got caught up in a pace duel last time in the Arkle and paid the price (finished third). Still has lots of potential over fences but may benefit from more patient tactics given an easier task here.

Form: 113-123

Shantou Rock^t⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 148| D

13/2

Exudes enthusiasm and made all for all of his wins, having progressed beyond his hurdles form over fences. Finished in the runner-up slot in two small-field Grade 2 novice chases and will be dangerous if allowed a soft lead.

Form: 1F-1222

Lady Buttons⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 140| D

4/1

Very likeable sort who is so far unbeaten over fences (2/2), taking a Listed event on her first attempt over the larger obstacles. Looks as though she really relishes her task (jumps well) and travels strongly through her races; hard to discount.

Form: P-21441

Forecasts

Petit Mouchoir (4/5), Lady Buttons (4/1), Diego Du Charmil (5/1), Shantou Rock (13/2), Kauto Riko (25/1), Delegate (40/1)

Irish trainers have taken this three times in the past five years with Henry de Bromhead providing two of those successes and he looks to have a fine chance of landing the race again via the likely market leader Petit Mouchoir. However, he had a tough race at Cheltenham and more significantly, he won’t have it easy up front this time either with Shantou Rock likely to keep him company; that could set the race up for LADY BUTTONS. She has taken well to fences displaying a very sound jumping technique and travelling well. Diego Du Charmil deserves a chance in this grade having passed up an opportunity to run in Thursday’s Red Rum Handicap Chase.