Greene King IPA Novices' Chase

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 4m 12.70s

Nube Negra^t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 142| D

2/5

Very useful hurdler that made an immediate impression over fences when successful at Warwick earlier in the month, beating a high-rated rival into second; penalty to carry for that but has valuable chasing experience, and looks the one to beat.

Form: 5/8B36-1

Ar Mest²⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 127| D

7/1

Useful handicap hurdler, winner twice last winter at Leicester and Newbury under similar conditions to today; plenty from the yard have needed their first run of the year, so unless strong market support, may be best watched today.

Form: 0/93115-

Encore Champs¹⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 127| DWS

11/2

Three times a winner last year, twice over hurdles and has always looked a chasing type; finished the season off a bit weakly though, so a little to prove today, and on bare form, needs more to beat a couple of these.

Form: 117178-

Locker Room Talk^h¹⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Savage⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132| BF| D

12/1

Plenty of scope for fences, twice a winner last year (Huntingdon win reads well now) but beaten at very cramped odds in a match when last seen, which has to be of some concern; every chance if that can be forgiven.

Form: 6410-12

Fleur Irlandaise⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 128| D

20/1

First start for this yard having raced exclusively in France so far, winning twice; half-sister to the useful Decor Irlandais and gets all the allowances as a 4yo filly here; cannot be discounted by a long chalk.

Form: 12-571

Forecasts

Nube Negra (2/5), Encore Champs (11/2), Ar Mest (7/1), Locker Room Talk (12/1), Fleur Irlandaise (20/1)

A really good race for the money and hard to totally rule any of the five out. NUBE NEGRA jumped like an old hand on chase debut at Warwick, taking the scalp of the useful Ballymoy in the process and despite having the penalty to carry for that, can put the experience to good use and follow up. Ar Mest should be up to making the selection work for the win and both Encore Champs and Locker Room Talk have the scope to improve over fences. Even Fleur Irlandaise cannot be discounted getting so much weight.