Always Value On Racing With blacktype.bet Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 6m 48.9s

Graystown¹⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 104

13/2

Put in some respectable efforts over hurdles this year, when looking as though the step up to further would suit. A good chase debut over this trip would not surprise.

Form: 506P3-5

The Ogle Gogle Man^p,t1¹⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Joshua Moore| T: C J Mann| OR: 98

2/1

Was single-figure odds for all four of his chases earlier in the year, the best of those being on debut. 7lb drop for this reappearance, plus the step up in trip and addition of a tongue tie, could all help him produce a much better effort.

Form: 43336-3

Torhousemuir²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: S Thomas| OR: 96

4/1

Placed in five of his eight chases. 2lb higher than when going very close at Stratford in September. Not sure he is crying out for this longer trip, but can't rule him out.

Form: 3-232P4

Shaiyzar^p²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: C O'Farrell| T: D Thompson| OR: 87

12/1

Has made the frame in 10-22 chases, without winning one. 7¼L third from this mark at Southwell last time (3m, good). Stays 3m1½f and has each-way claims.

Form: 352653

Spinning Scooter^p1,t¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 87

16/1

Best chase effort would give him very strong claims from this mark, but has been unable to get close to that form since. Cheekpieces now added to tongue strap (visor appeared ineffective earlier). Not written off, but a bit to prove.

Form: 2334P7

Kovera^v²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 79

9/4

Has improved with each start for this trainer, going close at Southwell (3m, good) last time. 4lb rise for that suggests he will need a career-best to follow up, but can't rule that out.

Form: 01-P552

Forecasts

The Ogle Gogle Man (2/1), Kovera (9/4), Torhousemuir (4/1), Graystown (13/2), Shaiyzar (12/1), Spinning Scooter (16/1)

An interesting contest. Graystown may now be capable of improvement going over fences, as he has always looked a chaser in-the-making, while Kovera is representing a trainer notorious for improving others' cast-offs, and he appears to be doing the same again. Both those runners are respected, and in truth it is hard to rule anything out here, but preference is for THE OGLE GOGLE MAN, who has some experience and may be able to kick on again in new headgear on the back of a break.