Smarkets Betting Exchange Novices' Chase

Off time: 12:26 | Winning time: 4m 8.1s

Raise A Spark¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 138| D

9/1

Three wins from six starts over fences, mainly on decent ground. Penalties give him plenty to do, especially on this going, but he is reliable and will not go down without a fight for last year's winning stable.

Form: 112314

Brelan D'As^h,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 136

15/8

Runner-up on both starts over fences this season, latterly when second of 11 to a stable companion in a handicap at Newbury. Sound chance on that effort, but is unproven on ground as soft as this.

Form: 3500-22

Go Long³²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: Evan Williams| OR: 127

9/1

Lightly-raced for an eight-year-old and makes his first appearance and chasing debut after a 10-month absence. Could do better at this game, but has quite a bit to find against some decent rivals.

Form: 312P/43-

Whatswrongwithyou^h²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137| D

10/11

Progressive hurdler last season when he finished third in the Imperial Cup at Sandown. Only fair reappearance run at Newbury, but is regarded as a nice chasing prospect by his trainer and enjoys plenty of give in the ground.

Form: 2/2113-6

Forecasts

Whatswrongwithyou (10/11), Brelan D'As (15/8), Go Long (9/1), Raise A Spark (9/1)

Raise A Spark looks vulnerable conceding so much weight all round and Go Long may well need the run, so this could develop into a duel between Brelan D'As and WHATSWRONGWITHYOU. The former ran well in handicap company last time, but the latter boasts even better form over hurdles and is expected to improve for the switch to fences.