Kalahari King Beginners' Chase

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 4m 10.8s

Captain Moirette¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 131| D

11/2

Lightly raced but fair form over hurdles and is possibly type to do better now tackling fences. Shaped well on seasonal return when third in 2m Wetherby h'cap hurdle fortnight ago so won't lack for fitness.

Form: 4/4118-3

Financier²⁰⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee

40/1

Point-to-point winner who showed a little ability in three bumpers and now goes staright to chasing. Appears to have a great deal to find to compete at this level and may find this a baptism of fire.

Form: 1305-

First Flow²³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 140| D

2/1

Looked hot prospect when winning Grade 2 novice hurdle at Haydock in heavy ground in Jnauary 2018 but has had issues since pulling up in Supreme Novices Hurdle two months later. Fine fifth in hot handicap hurdle in March. Chase debut.

Form: 4111P/5-

River Bray^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: C Gethings| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 130

18/1

Dual novice hurdler winner last term, but fell at 7th on chase bow over C&D in May. In touch until appeared to blow up on seasonal return over timber at Chepstow recently. Faces tough task.

Form: 7131-F6

Summerville Boy¹⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 153| DWS

2/1

Dual Grade 1-winning novice hurdler including 2018 Supreme Novices Hurdle. Unable to build on that last term at top level and goes chasing now after wind op. Potential star performer in this sphere and may be hard to beat with clear round.

Form: 11/474-6

Western Ryder^p¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 145| D

4/1

Very useful hurdler (rated 150) well capable of handling testing conditions. Disappointing when distant third of five on chase bow at Sedgefield recently on seasonal return. Should strip fitter but will need to have improved plenty to score here.

Form: 53330-3

Non-Runners

Mon Port¹⁷¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: O Murphy J: Fergus Gregory

Thomas Darby²³⁴

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: O Murphy J: R Johnson

Forecasts

Thomas Darby (13/8), Summerville Boy (2/1), First Flow (2/1), Western Ryder (4/1), Captain Moirette (11/2), Mon Port (14/1), River Bray (18/1), Financier (40/1)

Arguably the best novice chase so far this season. If the wind operation has done the trick then SUMMERVILLE BOY may make a winning start in this new sphere. The 2018 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner is a class act and is well suited by easy ground. Thomas Darby, runner-up in last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle, could be a big danger and has won first time out both previous seasons., while First Flow, another talented hurdler, is interesting returning from an eight-month absence for the yard that won this with Charbel three years ago. Western Ryder cannot be ruled out if he gets his jumping together, and Captain Moirette is an outsider who could outrun his odds.