Finnick Group Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 4m 2.2s

Maire Banrigh^t³⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 122| D

6/4

Unbeaten in two starts since wind surgery most recently when the 5L winner of a 2m1f hurdle on handicap debut at Carlisle (good) in October last year. One to note off a 10lb higher mark on chase debut.

Form: 187/11-

Song Of The Sky^t⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann| OR: 114

9/2

Debuted for this stable with an 11L third in a six runner novices' handicap chase at Stratford (2m1f, good) in August. Worth a check in the market.

Form: 202-743

Rizzardo¹⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 110

7/1

Six race maiden disappointed when 52L 12th over 2m4f at Perth (good) in a handicap hurdle in April. Market support would be notable on chase and seasonal debut.

Form: 7P/5620-

Flight To Milan¹⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 110

9/1

12 race maiden was beaten a head in a 2m handicap chase at Ffos Las (soft) in April. Disappointed at Bangor (good) six days later and races off a mark 3lb higher than at Ffos Las.

Form: 663F27-

Wenceslaus²³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 100

7/1

Dual hurdles winner ran well to finish third in a 2m handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (good-to-soft) in February. Absent since and is an interesting runner on chase debut.

Form: 311573-

Strictlyadancer²⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Christian Williams| OR: 96| BF

5/1

Returned from a short break with a victory over an extended 2m7f at Fakenham (good) in a handicap hurdle in January.Beaten favourite when sixth at Ludlow (3m, good-to-soft) later that month. Dropping markedly in trip on debut over fences.

Form: U/84716-

Forecasts

Maire Banrigh (6/4), Song Of The Sky (9/2), Strictlyadancer (5/1), Wenceslaus (7/1), Rizzardo (7/1), Flight To Milan (9/1)

MAIRE BANRIGH hails from a top yard and having shown improved form since wind surgery she can make a winning chase debut and return from nearly 12 months off the track in this novices' handicap contest. Second place can go to Rizzardo who hails from a stable who are in good form at present while Strictlyadancer who is receiving weight from all of his rivals can take third.