Signal 2 Breakfast With Dave Johnson Novices' Chase

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 4m 3.20s

Solomon Grey^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 140| CD

8/11

Decent sort who finished runnerup in listed Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton in January. Beat sole rival with minimum of fuss on chasing bow over C&D three weeks ago. This is much tougher under penalty but should still be thereabouts.

Form: 31/722-1

Cause Toujours^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| D

3/1

132-rated over timber and second in listed Haydock novices event in November. Out of luck in hot company last month and is interesting on chasing bow. Ground should suit but yard operating at poor 4% strike rate at present.

Form: 4222F0-

Lungarno Palace³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Alain Cawley| T: F O'Brien| D

9/1

Capable handicap hurdler. Tried over trips between 2m-3m, but appears best at minimum trip and was a shade unlucky when hampered and fourth at Cheltenham last month. Chasing bow for yard in good (26%) form at the moment.

Form: 143504-

River Bray^t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: V R A Dartnall

5/1

Progressive noivce hurdler who has won 2-3 this year and did it well when making all to score at Newton Abbot last time. Still unexposed and could have a future over fences for yard capable of producing a decent sort.

Form: 337131-

Forecasts

Solomon Grey (8/11), Cause Toujours (3/1), River Bray (5/1), Lungarno Palace (9/1)

In receipt of 6lb a chance is taken that chasing debutant RIVER BRAY can land the spoils. He has been in good form over timber and may well be up to winning over larger obstacles at the first time of asking. The penalised Solomon Grey beat one modest rival in a match on his chasing bow was was a talented hurdler and rates a danger. It's hard to rule out either of the other two who are both fair performers over timber, but Lungarno Palace may prove better than Cause Toujours at this game.