Smerdon Tree Services Novices' Chase (Listed)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 4m 52.2s

Master Tommytucker¹⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| D

4/1

Winner of both his starts over hurdles at Exeter earlier this year. Leading stable wastes no time in sending him over fences and it is anyone's guess how good he could be.

Form: 11-

Monbeg Legend³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 147

11/8

Fine strike rate over hurdles and fences. Has been making hay against lesser opposition over the bigger obstacles and needs to find more, but is tough and has experience on his side.

Form: 20-1211

Poetic Rhythm¹⁷⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| CD

2/1

Talented and tough campaigner last season when he won the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury. First outing over fences, but has won a point-to-point and has serious claims on the best of his hurdling form.

Form: 0/13107-

Spiritofthegames¹⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| D

7/1

Competed with plenty of credit in some major handicap contests last season, most notably when third in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. Won his only point-to-point and looks a major player on his chasing bow.

Form: 1/12357-

Non-Runners

Lisdoonvarna Lad²³²

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: C E Longsdon J: J J Burke

Forecasts

Monbeg Legend (11/8), Poetic Rhythm (2/1), Master Tommytucker (4/1), Spiritofthegames (7/1), Lisdoonvarna Lad (14/1)

Only five runners, but a crackerjack contest in which the ultra-consistent Monbeg Legend will be aiming to make his chasing experience count. However, he faces some seriously-interesting chasing debutants, most notably Poetic Rhythm and SPIRITOFTHEGAMES. with marginal preferene for the latter after some fine efforts in major handicaps last season. Master Tommytucker is unexposed and could be anything, but Lisdoonvarna Lad may find this opposition too hot.