Weatherbys Racing Bank Beginners' Chase

Off time: 15:51 | Winning time: 5m 21.75s

Applesandpierres^v²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Adrian Heskin| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 132| C

7/2

Surprising winner of a decent handicap hurdle here over 2m1f in May on his first run for the yard after being bought out of a Hexham seller (beaten odds-on favourite). Failed to repeat that last time and fell on his only previous chase start.

Form: 239-216

Cool Valley⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: D R Fox| T: W Young Jnr

40/1

Dual point-to-point winner who ran to a fairly poor level on his Rules debut over 2m at Perth (beaten 40L). Would be a big surprise to see him trouble the principals in this.

Form: 6/1F-P13

Dear Sire^h⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 143| C

1/2

Very capable hurdler who was due to make his debut here over fences at the last meeting (withdrawn; ground). Similar conditions now but has won over hurdles in quick conditions and much the best of these over hurdles.

Form: 54F12-0

Luca Brazi^h⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: A Sadik| OR: 62

200/1

Temperamental maiden who has shown little or no sign of ability with his chase form reading U5P; fell at the first over hurdles last time. Not for the feint-hearted.

Form: PU-P5PF

Sussex Road^p⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: A Sadik| OR: 44

250/1

Stablemate of Luca Brazi but has only a little more ability than that one and with a career record of 0-32 over fences. Hard to find anything positive about his chance.

Form: PR-P747

The Society Man¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: M C Chapman| OR: 56

200/1

75 runs over fences have yet to illicit an elusive win and hard to think that a victory will come here having been struggling of late in handicaps.

Form: 48-677P

Trafalgar Rock^p¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 117

7/2

Has shown some fairly useful form over obstacles but not the best of jumpers over fences. Well found in the market last time on his first run for this yard but didn't look an easy ride and his jumping was typically poor; headgear back on.

Form: 4PPP-24

Forecasts

Dear Sire (1/2), Applesandpierres (7/2), Trafalgar Rock (7/2), Cool Valley (40/1), Luca Brazi (200/1), The Society Man (200/1), Sussex Road (250/1)

Don McCain has held the whip hand in this race over the past few years running up a hat-trick in the years 2013-2015 and his DEAR SIRE reached a decent level over hurdles. Given that sort of form he should be good enough to take this providing he takes to fences with the obstacles being far from exacting here. Both Applesandpierres and Trafalgar Rock have failed to convince so far over fences but are still well ahead of the rest of the field on what they have shown over hurdles.