St Austell Brewery Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:51 | Winning time: 6m 34.90s

Manofthemountain²¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 110WS

7/2

Placed in an Irish point-to-point new connections look keen to get him over fences quickly after just three previous starts under Rules. Half-brother to a useful chaser (Fact Of The Matter); looks the type to do better over fences; interesting.

Form: 3/742-

Primal Focus^t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 108| CD

7/2

Won his sole chase so far (1-7) over C&D off the back of a Fakenham fall (fell last when in control). Two starts since returning from a wind op with his run last time offering some hope for the future (shaped well; late mistake ended his chance).

Form: 52F1-90

Game Line¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁷⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 98| BF

5/2

One of two in this race for the trainer; he's improved a great deal of late over obstacles following up a Stratford chase win with a victory over timber at Perth. Late mistakes blighted his chance of a hat-trick last time; still competitive.

Form: 335113

Midnight Magic^b,t¹²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 93

3/1

Career record reads 0-16 (0-4 fences); as his record suggests not one to be giving a solid chance to. Arguably should have won when last seen (conceded first run) over fences at Chepstow; no banker to repeat that sort of performance.

Form: 054P92-

Ruffling Feathers^t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Harry Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 87

6/1

Hurdles form so far would suggest that he's one of the lesser lights in the yard but he's in good hands and may well do better in this sphere. Start his chasing career off a lowly mark; not written off given his connections.

Form: 8506-75

Forecasts

Game Line (5/2), Midnight Magic (3/1), Manofthemountain (7/2), Primal Focus (7/2), Ruffling Feathers (6/1)

Both of the chasing newcomers hold some interest although Ruffling Feathers will need to do better than his hurdles form recently, he’s not badly handicapped on his bumper form. MANOFTHEMOUNTAIN is sent chasing quickly for his new connections, unsurprisingly given his pedigree with his trainer having a 21% strike-rate with her handicap chasing debutantes; a winning debut may not be beyond him. The Christian Williams pair can’t be ruled out although both have made mistakes of late that have cost them chances in the latter stages of races – Game Line is preferred to Primal Focus in that little battle although both look looks sure to be suited by this test.