Sky Sports Racing Novices' Chase

Off time: 13:01 | Winning time: 4m 25.6s

Kalashnikov²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 152| D

1/7

High-class hurdler of last term and potential Arkle Chase contender who scored on chasing bow at Warwick where he jumped adequately, although with room for improvement. Hard to oppose if he jumps a clear round.

Form: 11212-1

Attest¹⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: W Greatrex

12/1

Fair handicap hurdler last term but rated 20lb inferior to Kalahshnikov. Makes chaisng bow here for yard in good form at present but faces a stiff task.

Form: 126510-

Bolister⁵⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: G & J Moore| OR: 89

100/1

Modest maiden handicap hurdler who would have to improve out of all recognition on this chasing debut if he is to have a say at the business end of proceedings. Hard to fancy.

Form: 639P2/5-

Chivers¹⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 91

50/1

Five-time Flat winner but is 0-12 over hurdles and rated more than 50lb inferior to Kalashnikov. May do a little better over fences but appears to have a mountain to climb on all known form.

Form: 3747/9P-

Paddy's Poem²¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Aspell| T: N J Gifford| OR: 114| BF

25/1

Placed in 5-8 starts but looks exposed as no more than an ordinary handicapper. Needs to find massive improvement if he is to bustle-up the anticipated favoruite on chasing bow.

Form: 83328-3

Envoye Special^h1,t1²⁷³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137WS

4/1

Ex-French winning hurdler, already runner-up twice in French chases. Makes his debut for top jumps yard and could be decent but returns after wind op, and wears both tongue-tie and a hood. Any market confidence would be interesting.

Form: 1/622-

Forecasts

Kalashnikov (1/7), Envoye Special (4/1), Attest (12/1), Paddy's Poem (25/1), Chivers (50/1), Bolister (100/1)

KALASHNIKOV is the star turn here and bar a fall is surely going to prove very hard to beat. A very talented hurdler, he made a satisfactory chase debut when scoring at Warwick and should have learned plenty from the experience. He can enhance his Arkle Chase claims. French import Envoye Special receives 11lb from the selection but will need to be smart if he is to bustle up the likely hot favourite, while Attest looks the type who should win a few races over fences and has place prospects on his chasing bow.