Sileby Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 4m 58.40s

Well Smitten⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 120| D

11/2

Broke his duck on debut for this yard when a 7L scorer at Huntingdon (2m4f, soft) in December, and 7lb lower. Stopped quickly enough back there in a better race last time. Has an in-and-out record, so no surprise to see him bounce back.

Form: U72-P1P

Night Of Sin⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Nick Williams| OR: 118

6/4

Not always consistent over fences so far, but has seen a general upward curve in performance, underlined by a second chase win, at Fontwell (2m3½f, good to soft) last time. Acts on a sound surface and has claims after a 5lb rise.

Form: 713671

Pique Rock^h³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly| OR: 117| BF| D

3/1

Began for this trainer by winning back-to-back novice hurdles at Bangor (2m3½f) and Ludlow (2m5f) in October (both good). Bettered that with a promising chase debut at Doncaster last time. Up 1lb, so more needed, but has claims.

Form: 411343

Wishfull Dreaming^t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 114

10/3

Ran well in a couple of handicap hurdles before making a successful return to chasing at Doncaster (2m3f, good) last month (had Pique Rock behind, who is now 2lb better off for 2½L). Should be more to come based on hurdles ability. Big chance.

Form: 349221

Stormy Milan^p1²⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 110

14/1

Not devoid of promise in bumpers or over hurdles. Drops back in trip for this chase debut, with cheekpieces fitted, and is likely to have to wait for other days.

Form: 959-4

Non-Runners

Cuddles Mcgraw⁸⁹

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: F O'Brien J: P J Brennan

Sackett⁵

Weight: 10-12| Age: 8

T: N B King J: Bryony Frost

Forecasts

Night Of Sin (6/4), Cuddles Mcgraw (11/4), Pique Rock (3/1), Wishfull Dreaming (10/3), Well Smitten (11/2), Sackett (8/1), Stormy Milan (14/1)

A really interesting novices' chase where several have claims. Well Smitten ran flat last time, but he has done that before and bounced back, so he enters calculations, along with last-time winners Night Of Sin, Cuddles McGraw and WISHFULL DREAMING. The last-named gets the marginal vote, as he has already shown he has more ability over hurdles, and can probably step up on his Doncaster success. Sackett is not written off, while Pique Rock should also be competitive.