MansionBet Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 5m 39.9s

Emerald Chieftan^t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: R Menzies| OR: 104| D

2/1

Made all when a 7L hurdles scorer at Sedgefield (2m5f, good to soft) in January; still learning the ropes over fences (0-3); finished a plugging on third to the Dan Skelton-trained Goodthyneaway at Southwell (2m4f, good) latest; holds every chance.

Form: F54713

Hugo's Reflection^t1⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: B I Case| OR: 99

9/2

Difficult to say that he's appeared to be anything other than an ordinary performer over hurdles (admittedly was outclassed at Kempton); has a chasing pedigree so could fare better in this discipline (debut) wearing a newly applied tongue-tie.

Form: 0/40-7F6

Dallas Cowboy¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: T J FitzGerald| OR: 95

9/2

Made mistakes when pulled up on debut for this trainer (11-2) behind today's rival Emerald Chieftan at Southwell recently; now 0-18 over fences and hasn't won anywhere since October 2015; easily opposed.

Form: P4445P

Invicta Lake^b²⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-1| J: R P McLernon| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 93| D

10/1

Took full advantage of meeting some moderate opponents when a 15L winner on his penultimate start (2m5f+ Fontwell, soft); disappointing off his revised mark latest, and on balance rates as a difficult horse to predict.

Form: 543416

Loch Garman Aris⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: J E Moore| T: G Hanmer| OR: 88

4/1

Bangor bumper winner in October 2015; yet to strike in eight starts over obstacles, but is potentially capable of finding a small race over fences (0-3); conditions fine; definitely one to consider with Jamie Moore in the saddle.

Form: 50-6343

Truckers Tangle¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: M G Nolan| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 88

6/1

11-race rules maiden; has run to a similar level of form on both starts over regulation fences (2m-2m5f); holds minor place prospects in a modest contest, but doesn't necessarily appear to be a winner in waiting.

Form: 0P-2524

Dream On Dreamer^t¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Mr Aiden Blakemore⁽⁷⁾| T: L Egerton| OR: 85

50/1

Poor Flat and hurdles maiden; tailed-off on chasing debut behind the 1/16f Louis' Vac Pouch at Catterick (2m3f novices') in February; this is a more realistic test, albeit she's still totally unappealing.

Form: 68744

Forecasts

Emerald Chieftan (2/1), Loch Garman Aris (4/1), Hugo's Reflection (9/2), Dallas Cowboy (9/2), Truckers Tangle (6/1), Invicta Lake (10/1), Dream On Dreamer (50/1)

A race which is highly unlikely to see that many punters dashing to invest their hard earned financial assets. Emerald Chieftan is with a trainer who has forged an excellent reputation for herself with the limited stock at her disposal, and wouldn't need to find too much further improvement over fences in order to take this race in his stride. However, in receipt of 16lb from the top-weight, the preferred option is the Gary Hanmer-trained LOCH GARMAN ARIS who surely has a race of this nature somewhere within the reach of his capabilities from an official rating of just 88.