Patrick Coyne Memorial Altcar Novices' Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 5m 8.20s

Crucial Role³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 145| D

3/1

Wide margin winner (9L) of a very competitive 2m4f Uttoxeter Beginners' Chase in December (soft) and must enter the reckoning on that basis alone; hopefully won't recall his first run over fences when bursting a blood vessel at this track.

Form: 212P-31

Jerrysback²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Geraghty| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 148| D

13/8

Tailed-off on chasing debut at Cheltenham (jumped right) but has fared better since - gifted the race by the ill-fated Euxton Lane at Bangor before losing little in defeat to Vinndication (Ascot) latest; going back left-handed a slight concern.

Form: 111/512

Le Breuil³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 145| D

5/2

Finished miles in front of the inexperienced Jerrysback when beaten a neck by Count Meribel at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) in November and has run to a similar level since behind Santini (Newbury) and Drovers Lane (Cheltenham); the safest option.

Form: 15-1232

Slate House^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 140

6/1

Safe to say that this once exciting £260,000 purchase has become something of a disappointment over hurdles, regularly coming up short at the top-table; could prove stronger for the recent run at Plumpton (his chasing debut).

Form: 145F8-4

Castafiore^p²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 128| D

20/1

Boast a 25% overall strike-rate (5-20) but wasn't in the same league as these rivals over hurdles and despite winning by 7L on her second start over fences at Wincanton (2m4f) on Boxing Day shouldn't be troubling the judge today.

Form: 86-0441

Forecasts

Jerrysback (13/8), Le Breuil (5/2), Crucial Role (3/1), Slate House (6/1), Castafiore (20/1)

Jerrysback has given the distinct impression that he's best suited by jumping fences around a right-handed track, so despite producing a fine effort behind the still unbeaten Vinndication in an Ascot Grade 2 in December, he's taken on with both Crucial Role and LE BREUIL. The former was impressive in winning one of the most competitive Beginners' Chases of the season at Uttoxeter following an earlier unsettling introduction to chasing at this Lancashire track. Therefore, the safest option is the reliable Le Breuil who admittedly a shade less fashionable than that other aforementioned duo remains a useful prospect, and is nigh guaranteed to deliver his best.