Jigsaw Sports Branding Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 6m 27.65s

Timeforwest^p1²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 119| D

3/1

Landed handicap hurdle hat-trick last spring and grabbed a win over fences at Warwick in March in a four-runner affair. Outclassed in hot race soon after but ran OK after two month break at Ffos Las last month and won't be far away.

Form: B8619-5

Loch Linnhe^p⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 115

10/1

Yard ticking along nicely and won over 2m4f at Hexham last month before pulled up at Bangor two weeks later. Fair if unspectacular effort when third at Hexham last time but may be handicapped to the hilt for now.

Form: 62P-1P3

The Wicket Chicken^p1²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 114| C| D

11/2

Won here over hurdles last July, and first-time cheekpieces applied after going very close over fences at Huntingdon last month. 2lb higher now but is a player on recent evidence.

Form: 1216-52

Inch Rise⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 108| D

6/4

Only win in 20 starts in Ireland came in 3m Cork maiden hurdle on heavy ground back in March 2016. Joined top yard just 10 days ago, faces better ground, and market should indicate if he's settled in well.

Form: 35355-P

North West Wind²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 106

8/1

Six-race maiden, returned from spring break to run a fair race over hurdles last time at Bangor and looks the type to do better over fences. Shrewd yard respected so decent show on chasing bow not out of the question.

Form: 4338P-4

Changeofluck^t¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Mrs L Hill| OR: 100| D

8/1

Won 5 of last seven point to points and not disgraced in maiden and novice hunter chase company in recent weeks. This looks tougher but not totally ruled out of the argument.

Form: 341-143

Forecasts

Inch Rise (6/4), Timeforwest (3/1), The Wicket Chicken (11/2), North West Wind (8/1), Changeofluck (8/1), Loch Linnhe (10/1)

THE WICKET CHICKEN is a tentative choice in a race of fairly disappointing types. She ran well last time out and went close to scoring, so the hope is the cheekpieces will now make the essential difference. Inch Rise could be a big danger on his debut for the Skeltons as this is not a great race and he looks open to improvement, while chasing debutant North West Wind and top weight Timeforwest have claims as well.