Energy Check Utility Comparisons Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 5m 52.20s

Jassas³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 119

7/4

Showed some fair form over hurdles and came back from a wind op to produce a good first fencing effort at Kelso (2m1f, good); needed a greater test. Confirmed the promise of his debut when at Uttoxeter (2m4f); rallied well to beat subsequent winner.

Form: 2/168-21

Chu Chu Percy^v⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 108| D

11/4

Won off just 1lb lower over hurdles earlier in the year but hasn't been in the same form since only showing modest form on his chasing debut. Jumped well enough but only ended up finishing 3rd although the second has won since to strengthen the form.

Form: 5/211P-3

Sulamani The Late⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Menzies| OR: 99

20/1

Modest enough over hurdles (remained a maiden) when with Dan Skelton before he went into point-to-points with a couple of yards with mixed results (failed to complete six times). Now with a new yard under Rules (chasing) off his old hurdles mark.

Form: 4UPR-2F

Top Billing⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 97| D

9/4

Lightly-raced over fences ( three attempts)connections now revert to the larger obstacles as his losing hurdles run begins to mount. Becoming well handicapped over hurdles (rated 138 at one stage) and ran well enough when last seen here over hurdles.

Form: 5P/064-3

Ballinvegga^p⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 88| C| D

10/1

Returned from a huge absence last time (17 months) over C&D with cheekpieces on for the first-time and wasn't at disgraced. Should have improved for that run but is 5lb out of the handicap in a better race than last time.

Form: 95955/5

Non-Runners

Lotus Pond²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 10

T: P & M Bowen J: S Bowen

Forecasts

Lotus Pond (11/8), Jassas (7/4), Top Billing (9/4), Chu Chu Percy (11/4), Ballinvegga (10/1), Sulamani The Late (20/1)

Much will depend on whether Lotus Pond who completed a hat-trick at Ffos Las on Friday night travels North in search of a four-timer under a 7lb penalty and off a mark 27lb higher than when he began his winning spree. He didn’t win by much on Friday and may prove vulnerable now to JASSAS who will be suited by this increased trip having shown a good attitude to win at Uttoxeter off a 4lb lower mark. Chu Chu Percy hasn’t totally convinced over fences so far and Top Billing looks a danger if he can find his old form now he’s down to a mark a low as 97 having fallen rapidly in the handicap over hurdles.