Like Sun Racing On Facebook Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:52 | Winning time: 6m 27.5s

Chu Chu Percy^v¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 115| BF

7/2

A consistent gelding that stays the trip well and is versatile regarding ground preference. However, he was well held last time out and now looks vulnerable racing from the same mark over this 2f longer trip.

Form: 11P-316

Oscar Blue^p1²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR: 107| C

12/1

Quickly seemed to lose his way over hurdles and is yet to really convince that he's an ideal chaser in the making. First-time cheekpieces need to initiate a good deal of improvement.

Form: 93P4/PP

Running In Heels^t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 106

13/8

Taken to fences in good style and interesting to see her revert to chasing at this level. A winner at Limerick (3m, gd) in July, the mare has proved to be mainly consistent over the larger obstacles, which could be a vital tool in this company.

Form: 291149

Sulamani The Late³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 99

25/1

Failed to complete in a string of point-to-points and much the same scenario in two outing over regulation fences since joining his current yard. Yet to convince he'll make a decent chaser and is currently hard to recommend.

Form: PR-2FUU

Nemean Lion^p,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 98| C

7/2

Didn't scale too many heights when trained by Joseph O'Brien on the Flat but managed a win over hurdles at this course at the first attempt. Has ability over timber but the subsequent inauspicious start made over fences is off-putting.

Form: 5-6P3P5

Mister Mister¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: D L Williams| OR: 90

11/1

Managed a win over hurdles at Worcester but found a mark of 115 too stiff to cope with in two outings last season. Looks harshly assessed on that evidence but possible this step up in trip can help. Worth a betting check in what is a weak race.

Form: P5-5446

Eager To Know⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 82

9/1

7lb wrong at the weights but has made the frame in 3 of his 7 starts over fences, so not unfeasible to suggest the gelding can make the frame. Stepping up in trip has to be a bit of a worry though.

Form: P-73238

Forecasts

Running In Heels (13/8), Chu Chu Percy (7/2), Nemean Lion (7/2), Eager To Know (9/1), Mister Mister (11/1), Oscar Blue (12/1), Sulamani The Late (25/1)

A modest novices chase in which stamina may play an equal part in the end-game result. By which reasoning, RUNNING IN HEALS is taken as the most likely contender to land the main prize, given that she has a wealth of experience from the point-to-point scene and likes a good test of endurance. Mister Mister comes with risks attached but might improve for the extra distance this afternoon; while Eager To Know is out of the weights and tackling a new distance, so it would be no shock to see Chu Chu Percy play a part as the best of those available at more attractive odds.