Commission Free Racing At Matchbook Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 5m 12.00s

Royal Supremo³⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 117| BF| D

15/2

Won a bumper and a novice hurdle in 2016 and ran placed in a couple of handicap hurdles last year. Absent though for 365 days so fitness is a concern with plenty of weight allotted on her novice chasing bow.

Form: 11373/2-

Bandsman⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 116

1/1

Landed Warwick handicap hurdle off mark of 116 last week in good style and connections move straight on to chasing bow here. Sure to have been well schooled by top yard and must have a good chance with fitness guaranteed.

Form: 10/580-1

Ballycamp²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: A Pogson| T: C T Pogson| OR: 113

5/1

Step back up to this trip may help having been outpaced over 2m last two starts. Has experience over fences and may not be far away with a clear round.

Form: 422/423-

Hidden Cargo¹⁰⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 112

10/3

Still relatively unexposed maiden handicap hurdler making chasing debut here for a yard that has hit form with a vengeance over the last week and won this race last year. Ground and trip no problem so should go well.

Form: 243/P68-

Monar Rose^h,t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Kielan Woods| T: B I Case| OR: 111

20/1

Won Towcester miden hurdle last May but has struggled in five starts since, the last three following a wind operation. Pulled up at Towcester last month so looks up against it on recent evidence.

Form: 14640P-

Boy In A Bentley^p,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 110| D

20/1

Landed small field novice hurdles at Cartmel and Sedgefield last summer but hans't shown much over timber in three outings since then. May do better for good yard over larger obstacles so might not be far away.

Form: 211P07-

Forecasts

Bandsman (1/1), Hidden Cargo (10/3), Ballycamp (5/1), Royal Supremo (15/2), Monar Rose (20/1), Boy In A Bentley (20/1)

A case can be made for a few of these but Dan Skelton's BANDSMAN appears the safest option having shown himself to be on top of his game when winning over hurdles last week. If Royal Supremo is fully fit then he would have to have a chance despite having to concede weight all round, while it wouldn't surprise to see Hidden Cargo prove much better at this game, a comment that also applies to Boy In A Bentley.