15:00 Hereford

Tuesday 26 March 2019

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:30

S & A Produce Novices' Chase

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 6m 21.6s

Station Master^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 135

2/1

Some good runs to his name this year, and gained a deserved success at Huntingdon last time, driven right out for a narrow win. Conditions fine again and should, barring accidents, be in the frame again at worst.

Form: 60-22P1

Steely Addition⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 150| BF

1/2

Has a bit of class about him, good winner at Chepstow in December and although a bit below par back there last time, it was still a decent effort. Should handle the quicker ground and looks the one to beat.

Form: 118-314

Ballingarrow²⁵²²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Miss A Goschen⁽⁷⁾| T: Amaryllis Goschen

33/1

Lightly raced 10yo that had the privilege of seeing Faugheen's rear end when second to him on his 2012 point-to-point debut, but has had issues since and can only be watched here.

Form: 62/

Italian River²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: R H Buckler

66/1

Bumper debut back in 2017 wasn't terrible but no promise in three starts since then, and well beaten last couple of starts after a long absence. Can't be considered here.

Form: 79/PP

Minerfortyniner^t⁷¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: G R I Smyly| OR: 108

7/1

Won a weak point-to-point at Godstone back in 2017, bits and pieces of hurdles form this season and has always given the impression he'll be better over fences. Biting off plenty here though, and may be one for handicaps.

Form: 1/4-6204

Mon Garcon Frankie¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁵⁾| T: S Flook

33/1

Early unseat at Leicester last time hardly a ringing endorsement of his chances here, and neither is his tailed-off effort at Bangor the time before. Easily passed over.

Form: PP3-45U

Noruki⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: L Heard| T: D L Williams

14/1

Highly tried last couple of starts, was in the process of running a respectable race when tipping up two out at Wetherby last week and could be capable of hitting the minor places if none the worse for that.

Form: P14/P4F

Jonjoela³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Graham Carson⁽⁷⁾| T: Tracey Leeson| OR: 74

66/1

Very moderate handicap hurdler, fully exposed in that sphere and hard to see her taking a hand in the finish on her chase debut today.

Form: 053650

Forecasts

Steely Addition (1/2), Station Master (2/1), Minerfortyniner (7/1), Noruki (14/1), Ballingarrow (33/1), Mon Garcon Frankie (33/1), Jonjoela (66/1), Italian River (66/1)

Not many to concentrate on here. Station Master came good at Huntingdon last time out but he was pretty much all out to win, and at today's weights, has a bit to find with STEELY ADDITION if the latter runs his race. Ideally he might want a bit more cut than he's going to get but he handles good ground fine, and ought to be good enough with a clear round. Minerfortyniner and Noruki can fight out the bronze.