Walter Wales Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 5m 40.7s

Come On Charlie⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Ben Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 105

4/1

Won a novice hurdle and a handicap before finding a more determined rival too good at Leicester in January. That form reads well in the context of this race and the gelding, with a 7lb claimer booked, may have more to offer.

Form: 03-P112

Mr Love^p¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: L P Aspell| T: L Wadham| OR: 103| BF

11/4

Has ability but also been expensive to follow and his form has tailed off from his early promise to a modest effort last time out. Admittedly, that was the gelding's first run since wind surgery and a long absence but he still has plenty to prove.

Form: 43P25-6

Primal Focus¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 102| BF

2/1

Gelded at the turn of the year and has held his form reasonably well. Disappointing favourite last time out over C&D though and needs to up his game to redeem himself.

Form: 574352

Point Of Departure^p1³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 96

11/1

Won a point-to-point but plenty of room for improvement judging by his efforts under rules. Not shown much in two starts for his current yard and needs the first-time cheekpieces to prompt something of a transformation.

Form: 1684/0P

Stonebrigg Legend¹¹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 72| CD

5/2

Out gunned Primal Focus over C&D latest and must enter the calculations on that evidence. However, he picks up 7lb extra and also has a bit to find with Come On Charlie and those two negatives outweigh the positives.

Form: 54F231

Non-Runners

Why Lie²³

Weight: 10-13| Age: 8

T: A Phillips J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Primal Focus (2/1), Stonebrigg Legend (5/2), Mr Love (11/4), Come On Charlie (4/1), Point Of Departure (11/1), Why Lie (25/1)

COME ON CHARLIE is the safest option in what again looks like being a tactical race. The gelding has the choice of setting his own tempo and may well confirm he has the legs to cope with his revitalised old rival Stonebrigg Legend. There may be more to come from Primal Focus but he too needs to step things up after just failing to justify favouritism last time (finished just over 3L behind Stonebrgg Legend). Mr Love may also have more to offer and is likely to strip fitter after his recent return from a wind operation.