First Days Charity Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 4m 6.70s

Capeland^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 144

2/1

Goes on most ground and stays 2m4f. Wasn't beaten far from this mark at Chepstow two starts back, before tilting at windmills in the JLT last time. Has to be taken very seriously back in this grade.

Form: 121228

Caid Du Lin^p,t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 143| CD

3/1

Goes well on a sound surface. Won over 2m1f here in November, when 4lb lower. Was then put away until recently beaten 23L in the Grand Annual. Has the opportunity to show that he is better than that back in this company. Claims.

Form: 12P210

Dentley De Mee^p³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Chester Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 128| BF

7/4

Sole hurdles win came early last season on fast ground at Taunton. 0-5 over fences, but has run some very good races in defeat. However, already beginning to look exposed, so needs to pull out more.

Form: 232442

Eddiemaurice¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: J E Moore| T: J L Flint| OR: 119| C

6/1

Scored from this mark over hurdles at Kempton in December. Has since returned to chasing and produced a couple of very useful efforts when placed at Ludlow and Newbury. Unseated early last time. More needed at this level but open to improvement.

Form: 41432U

Non-Runners

Highway One O One¹⁹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: C Gordon J: Tom Cannon

Forecasts

Dentley De Mee (7/4), Capeland (2/1), Caid Du Lin (3/1), Highway One O One (7/2), Eddiemaurice (6/1)

Eddiemaurice will need some improvement to mount a serious challenge here, but he is open to some of that and should not be written off from bottom weight. At the other end of the spectrum, Highway One O One has a bit to prove on good ground. Capeland looks a serious contender, but preference is for CAID DU LIN, who acts on the ground, goes well here and should relish the return to this company.