15:35 Aintree

Sunday 28 October 2018

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Molson Coors Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 6m 15.90s

Drovers Lane¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Adrian Heskin| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 135| D

4/1

Strong travelling sort who made the switch from hurdles (dual winner in that sphere) to fences with a successful debut at Hereford (3m1f, good). Won by 9L and looks just the sort to go on improving; up 8lb for his win.

Form: 5-41121

Reigning Supreme²²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 134

7/2

Chasing career has been a little chequered so far (only completed once from three starts) and failed to cope with the track/test (4m) when last seen at Cheltenham. Mark unchanged from previous handicaps; has a little to prove returning from a break.

Form: 141/U2P-

Arthur's Gift²²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132

7/1

Completed a quick hat-trick over hurdles at the end of last year before the handicapper caught up with him and still remains above that last winning mark. Type to make a chaser and makes his debut here with the trip looking to suit.

Form: 114440-

Polydora¹⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: T Lacey| OR: 131

4/1

Dual hurdles winner at up to 2m7f on testing ground who showed much better form after a break on his 2nd handicap start here in May (took the runner-up slot). Now makes his chasing debut off a 3lb higher mark with the blinkers removed.

Form: 7/161U-2

Wandrin Star^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 127

13/2

Had shown ability over fences before he blitzed a small field at Bangor over 3m by 22l a performance that had the handicapper giving him a 14lb rise. One of the more experienced in this and there may be more to come from him.

Form: 4742-21

Molly The Dolly²³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 127

8/1

Winning point-to-pointer before embarking on her hurdles career under Rules winning on her stable debut for current yard (3rd start overall). Hasn't quite gone on from that so far but looks the sort to make a better chaser for a top yard.

Form: 32/1422-

Oakley Hall¹⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 125

20/1

Bumper form was useful when trained in Ireland and although he's not matched that over hurdles he has shown that he has ability over obstacles. Yet to run in a handicap and this will be his debut with a mark and his first over fences.

Form: 1/36F2-2

Wolfcatcher^p,t⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 124

18/1

Appeared to be a good hurdling prospect when successful on his hurdles debut but it then became a long wait for his 2nd win which he accomplished on his chase debut. Disappointed over hurdles last time adding to an inconsistent record overall.

Form: 0366-16

Traditional Dancer^p³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 123

40/1

Form figures over hurdles look consistent enough but he's not the heartiest of battlers; has run well on the Flat of late but again didn't find much. Now goes chasing for the first time; travels strongly but not one for maximum faith.

Form: 43-2124

Lord Du Mesnil¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: James Bowen| T: R Hobson| OR: 122

14/1

Ran six times over fences in France without success (failed to complete twice) and despite jumping well enough on his GB debut at Uttoxeter he suffered a heavy fall. Hard to know what he is capable of and best watched off the same mark.

Form: 4FF33-F

Forecasts

Reigning Supreme (7/2), Polydora (4/1), Drovers Lane (4/1), Wandrin Star (13/2), Arthur's Gift (7/1), Molly The Dolly (8/1), Lord Du Mesnil (14/1), Wolfcatcher (18/1), Oakley Hall (20/1), Traditional Dancer (40/1)

It was hard not to be impressed with the win of DROVERS LANE at Hereford and despite having to give weight away to the entire field here he’s selected to follow up that win despite an 8lb rise and continue his progress. Wandrin Star was another wide-margin winner last time and his experience will stand him in good stead although the handicapper did raise him a stone for his Bangor win and that makes life tougher. Of the chasing debutantes Molly The Dolly has some of the best form over timber (not disgraced in Listed grade) and she has the make and shape of a chaser with Arthur’s Gift looking likely to enjoy fences also. Reigning Supreme needs to jump better to be effective in this sphere.