Close Brothers Business Finance Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 18:35 | Winning time: 6m 16.0s

Lucky Jim^t³³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: David Dennis| OR: 103

10/1

0-13 over fences but starts out here after 11 months off with a career-low mark. Ground will suit and has gone well fresh in the past but suspect 3m is a real stretch to him.

Form: 522/42P-

An Laoch^t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 99| D

8/1

Promise over much shorter trips in 2017 but less impressive last year. Fourth on stable debut latest a step in the right direction over 2m3½f but struggled in all three starts around 3m in the past so stamina a doubt here.

Form: 2P37/P4-

Tanrudy^h,t¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: N J Hawke| OR: 97

4/1

Hurdles form was modest but shaped with promise on chasing debut at Worcester when third of 13. Remote second of three at Market Rasen (likely last bar rival falling) exposed limitations however.

Form: 4006-32

Definately Vinnie¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Jane Mathias| OR: 95

3/1

Sole success was in a Hereford maiden hurdle (3m1f, good) in 2017 but threatened a few times over fences and C&D second of 13 latest off this mark while well held reads strongly in this company.

Form: P20U5-2

Belmont Park^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Cannon| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 92

14/1

Remains a maiden but placed on a four occasions from seven over fences and in front latest until falling midway round. Certainly boasts some of the more persuasive form overall.

Form: PU2/33-U

The Manuscript^p²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: R Johnson| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 90

5/2

Successful by 1L in first time cheekpieces in a handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (soft) in December. Very disappointing on chase bow at Uttoxeter latest but still major shock if he doesn't go well in such a weak race here.

Form: 65138-7

Phoenix Rock¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: C Brace⁽⁵⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 71

11/2

12-race unplaced maiden and only completed once over fences in three starts. Risky proposition once again.

Form: 406S6-U

Forecasts

The Manuscript (5/2), Definately Vinnie (3/1), Tanrudy (4/1), Phoenix Rock (11/2), An Laoch (8/1), Lucky Jim (10/1), Belmont Park (14/1)

In such a weak contest recent C&D second DEFINATELY VINNIE looks to have a sound chance to land his first chase win if he can repeat the effort. The Manuscript would be the selection but for his last race, a pretty woeful effort. He could bounce back however. Belmont Park is mostly consistent at this sort of level and could have a say too.