Richard Davis Memorial Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 39.7s

Baden^p¹⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 133

7/2

Landed the Grand Military Gold Cup in March and followed up at Ludlow. Fully weighted and conditions may be on the fast side, but trainer's chasers do well here (5-15 last five seasons).

Form: 42214-1

Classic Ben¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 132

11/4

Has always looked a chasing type so his Uttoxeter fencing debut has to be marked as disappointing. Capable of better but hard to recommend on that latest showing, so holds every chance with a clear round on chase debut.

Form: 11726-4

Oh Land Abloom¹⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: N B King| OR: 130| D

9/1

Returned from a summer break to score over hurdles a year ago. Stays well and nicely weighted, so holds every chance with a clear round on chase debut.

Form: 146207-

Poker Play^p,t²⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 128WS

5/1

£280,000 purchase two years ago has clearly been difficult to train. Returns following wind surgery in a new headgear combination off a workable mark if taking to fences.

Form: 20/5P33-

Allelu Alleluia^b1³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Geraghty| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 127

15/2

Made a successful debut over fences having shown some useful form over hurdles. Form has been mixed since and blinkers applied this time.

Form: 4-1P333

Overland Flyer^t¹⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 126

3/1

Beat 139-rated Wotzizname in a point-to-point prior to an impressive debut for this yard. Has shown a tendency to hang and over-race since, but lurking on an attractive mark if top trainer has straightened him out during the summer.

Form: 114/P-22

Non-Runners

Gunfleet²⁵⁸

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: L P Aspell

Forecasts

Classic Ben (11/4), Overland Flyer (3/1), Baden (7/2), Poker Play (5/1), Gunfleet (5/1), Allelu Alleluia (15/2), Oh Land Abloom (9/1)

Baden may not have his ground but has the advantage of chasing experience which will count for a lot. Gunfleet won a couple of hurdles and his sound technique augurs well for a career in this sphere, whilst Oh Land Abloom and Poker Play are attractively weighted on their chase debuts if the market suggests they are ready following their breaks. Paul Nicholls has his team in good shape and OVERLAND FLYER is the best handicapped of these ahead of a return to 3m. He developed some quirks when last seen but he is hard to overlook off this mark and in the likelihood that fences will bring out the best in him.