Now We're Talking For Healthy Minds Novices' Chase

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 4m 5.10s

Danny's Star²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr W Thirlby⁽⁷⁾| T: A Day

80/1

Tailed-off last of four on rules debut in a Fontwell beginners' chase (2m2f, good); evidently isn't the solution.

Form: 31/P7-34

Dexcite^h⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: N Kent| OR: 107| D

33/1

Lost his way for Alan King in late 2018 and was well beaten on debut for Nick Kent at Bangor in May; conditions are fine for chasing debut, but that's about all that he has in his favour.

Form: 9/P5FP-8

Equus Millar⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 126| D

5/4

Won back-to-back handicap hurdles at Uttoxeter (2m4f) and Perth (2m) last September; has struggled since and now makes the switch to fences well; has plenty of work to do with the J P McManus pair at these weights.

Form: 11679-8

Innocent Touch¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 136| D

10/11

138-rated hurdler; reliable under similar conditions at Stratford last summer; beaten 21L on chasing debut (third) when never able to land a blow at an enterprisingly ridden Caius Marcius at Hexham (1m7½f, good) 10 days ago.

Form: 1151F-3

Red Inca³³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: A Phillips| OR: 97| D

16/1

Veteran; has been competing in point-to-points and hunter chases during the spring; won't be anywhere near good enough for this grade; readily dismissed.

Form: 6431-25

Non-Runners

Litterale Ci⁷

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: H Fry J: Aidan Coleman

Forecasts

Innocent Touch (10/11), Equus Millar (5/4), Litterale Ci (13/8), Red Inca (16/1), Dexcite (33/1), Danny's Star (80/1)

JP McManus is doubly represented by the 6yo mare Litterale Ci and the 8yo gelding INNOCENT TOUCH. Both horses were mildly useful hurdlers, so granted a clear round of fencing should hold all of the aces. A marginal preference is for the Henry Daly-trained runner who was never able to land a constructive blow on his Hexham chasing debut when beaten 21L by the very enterprisingly ridden Caius Marcius.