Groby Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:35 | Winning time: 3m 53.2s

Otter Moon²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 121

9/1

Scored over hurdles (2m½f, good) when 3lb higher in April. Bettered that when a 5½L sixth on his second start over fences at Chepstow in November. Ran flat when pulled up at Taunton latest. Needs to bounce right back.

Form: 31-836P

Early Du Lemo¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 120

11/8

Form has been a little bit patchy so far, but best efforts suggest he is a potentially useful recruit, as shown last time when beaten 3¼L at Newbury (2m½f, good to soft). Up 1lb for that, but he looks a probable contender granted a repeat effort.

Form: 3/25-0U2

Midnight Chill^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 120| D

9/2

Arrives unbeaten over fences after wins at Catterick and Sedgefield, both with some cur in the ground. Up another 4lb for the latter, but open to further improvement and should be tough to beat, if he handles fast ground on his first try.

Form: 2P3-011

New Millennium²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 110

5/1

Introduced to chasing last summer and improved with each start until scoring at the fourth attempt at Fontwell (2m2f, good to firm) in October. Below par on softer ground in two more runs, but not ruled out with conditions to suit again.

Form: 332144

Trigger Nichol^p²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 110| BF

6/1

0-9 so far, but has shown some ability, particularly on his penultimate start at Huntingdon last month (2m4½f, good to soft). Half-brother to a chase winner, while dam also won chases at around this trip, so he is an interesting newcomer to this.

Form: 834-F23

Lord Marmaduke¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: P R Webber| OR: 106

20/1

Encouraging that two of his best three hurdles runs have been here, the latter being last month when 9L second (2m4½f, good to firm) from 3lb higher. May improve over fences, but will need to if he is to win on debut from this mark.

Form: 348-920

Windspiel^t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Tom Cannon| T: D W P Arbuthnot| OR: 103| D

9/1

Fast ground Towcester chase winner (2m) last May, when 11lb lower. Inconsistent since, but bettered that when second at Kempton (2m2f, good) two starts ago. More needed, but not written off.

Form: 9-31725

Forecasts

Early Du Lemo (11/8), Midnight Chill (9/2), New Millennium (5/1), Trigger Nichol (6/1), Windspiel (9/1), Otter Moon (9/1), Lord Marmaduke (20/1)

Midnight Chill arrives in good form and should take a bit of beating, but he does have it to prove on faster ground and the suggestion is to side with TRIGGER NICHOL on his chase debut. In good hands, he looks likely to be better suited to chasing than hurdling, where he is a maiden, albeit having shown some promise. Early Du Lemo is feared if on-song, while New Millennium and Otter Moon can't be ruled out.