Alan Clydesdale Memorial Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 6m 11.7s

Knockrobin^t⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 129WS

11/4

Form of his third to the classy Count Meribel at Carlisle in November reads well, but he's not gone on from there. Has had a wind operation since last being seen but yet to conclusively prove he wants this far and yard form patchy.

Form: 12P-335

Grand Morning^t,v1⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 127

15/2

Useful over hurdles but chase efforts to date have left plenty to be desired, jumping moderately at both Carlisle and Wetherby, and now the visor is reached for. It could have a positive effect, but he's clearly a risky conveyance at present.

Form: 3111-PP

Western Rules^p³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 126| C

5/6

Took advantage of the long odds-on favourite unseating to score here last time out, but had been in good form before that and as long as the likely better ground isn't an issue, has solid chances of following up here.

Form: 1P-U231

Claud And Goldie⁸³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: R P McLernon| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 117

6/1

Very lightly raced, only seen three times (all in novice chases) and although given stiff tasks, has hinted at ability more than once. This may not take a lot of winning and with a bit of improvement on handicap debut, would have chances.

Form: 172/453

Forecasts

Western Rules (5/6), Knockrobin (11/4), Claud And Goldie (6/1), Grand Morning (15/2)

This looks very winnable. Knockrobin is likely to get an easy lead on the front, which might help him get this trip, but he has yet to show this is what he really wants and with the yard still under a bit of a cloud, may be worth opposing. With Grand Morning needing to get back on track, Western Rules looks the obvious one but a chance is taken that CLAUD AND GOLDIE, bred to want even further than this, might be good enough. Hes clearly taken time to come to himself (this will only be his fourth Rules start at the age of 10) but there's been enough encouragement in his novice chase starts to think he could be competitive now he goes into handicaps.