Heavitree Brewery PLC Novices' Chase

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 5m 0.40s

Black Op^t²³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: T R George

6/4

Developed into a top class novice hurdler at around this trip last season culminating with a second to Samcro at Cheltenham and then going one better at Aintree. Point-to-point winner and makes long awaited chasing debut here. Exciting prospect

Form: 9/41221-

Defi Du Seuil¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Geraghty| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 150

9/1

Smart juvenile hurdler but failed to hit those heights last year and jumping wasn't that fluent on recent debut over the larger obstacles last month.

Form: 111/47-5

Eddy¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Mrs S Gardner| C

200/1

Chase debut today but miles behind these on hurdles form and impossible to fancy on these terms in such exalted company.

Form: U27-849

Spring Wolf⁹⁸⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: R Walford

200/1

Some form in bumper's in 2014 but little in novice hurdles and has clearly been difficult to keep sound. Chase debut today.

Form: 238P/

Topofthegame^t²⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 139WS

6/4

Top handicapper over hurdles last season and finished his campaign with a neck defeat in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham. Fell on debut over fences at Newbury a year ago but sure to have been well schooled and held in high regard.

Form: 42/F412-

Westend Story²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| C

14/1

Fair handicap hurdler and often backed as though thought capable of even better but below the best of these over the smaller obstacles and fell on both point-to-points in 2015.

Form: B/4121-0

White Moon^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 143| C

5/1

Unlucky to fall at the last when squeezed for room at the last on chase debut at Cheltenham last month and would have gone very close to winning otherwise. Another exciting prospect and if that hasn't left a mark, will be a big player.

Form: F/1117-F

Forecasts

Topofthegame (6/4), Black Op (6/4), White Moon (5/1), Defi Du Seuil (9/1), Westend Story (14/1), Spring Wolf (200/1), Eddy (200/1)

About as strong a novice chase as you could find at this stage of the season with Black Op making his debut over the larger obstacles taking on some hugely promising types. Topofthegame should take high rank in this sphere but this trip could be on the sharp side and WHITE MOON, with fitness guaranteed and off the back of a very promising Cheltenham run, may prove the pick today.