32Red.com Wayward Lad Novices' Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 3m 52.75s

Dynamite Dollars¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 153| D

3/1

Useful if not exceptional hurdler has taken form to new level over fences winning two of his three starts with Grade One win at Sandown latest where he beat one of the Arkle favourites but meets another here and this time must concede weight.

Form: 554-121

Highway One O One¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 145| CD

14/1

Two from four over fences but twice beaten by Dynamite Dollars. Beaten 14½L into fourth by that rival latest in Henry VIII at Sandown and hard to therefore envisage him bustling up the top pair here.

Form: 12-1214

Kalashnikov²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 152| D

4/6

High class novice hurdler won three of five starts and only beaten a neck in Supreme Novices at Cheltenham. Two bloodless wins against lesser opponents so far over fences and as Arkle favourite he should be able to win this at the weights.

Form: 1212-11

Maria's Benefit⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 143| D

4/1

Smart mare won five on the bounce over hurdles last season before coming up slightly short at Cheltenham. Two from two over fences in lesser events at Bangor and Newton Abbot but could raise her game and go well.

Form: 1114-11

Hope's Wishes⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: David Bass| T: F Brennan| OR: 96| D

150/1

Fair hurdler although vastly inferior to these rivals and none from four so far over fences. Be a major surprise if she makes the first three.

Form: 442663

Forecasts

Kalashnikov (4/6), Dynamite Dollars (3/1), Maria's Benefit (4/1), Highway One O One (14/1), Hope's Wishes (150/1)

If KALASHNIKOV is going to win the Arkle and indeed he very much might do he needs to be winning a contest like this in receipt of 5lb from main rival Dynamite Dollars. Paul Nicholls' novice probably hasn't got the credit he deserves for his Henry VIII win with more spoken about disappointing favourite Lalor than him but nothing should be taken away from him for that Grade One win. Maria's Benefit is the other legitimate contender but she faces a big step up in class now.