coral.co.uk Novices' Chase

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 6m 18.00s

Boyhood^b1¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 141| D

4/1

Decent staying hurdler who acts on soft and won on his chase debut at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good to soft) in May. Tailed off on recent reappearance at Cheltenham, so blinkers now fitted to help him to try bounce back. Claims if he can.

Form: 1/230-16

Padleyourowncanoe²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 140| CD

5/4

Decent hurdler at up to 2m5f, but stepped up to 3m successfully on his recent chase debut, when a ready winner over C&D (good). Genuine soft ground is a slight concern, but he has to be considered.

Form: 36108-1

Commodore Barry^t¹⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 135| BF| D

2/1

Won 4-7 over hurdles, where he stayed 3m. Last seen going close at Ayr on his chase debut (3m, good) in May. Open to improvement, has won on soft, and looks a player.

Form: 12113-2

I'm Here⁶⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: N de Boinville| T: M Bradstock| D

16/1

Comfortable winner of a heavy ground Irish point in spring 2018 and changed hands for €90,000 soon after. Not seen since then, and probably one to watch on this delayed rules debut, unless market vibes particularly positive.

Form: 1/

Virginia Chick³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Isabel Williams| T: Evan Williams| OR: 127| C| D

14/1

Multiple hurdles winner at up to 3m, all on testing ground. Wouldn't have the ability of some of this field in that sphere. Held on 2m4f chase debut at Uttoxeter last month. Can probably come on for that now back over 3m, but needs improvement.

Form: 21/410-5

Forecasts

Padleyourowncanoe (5/4), Commodore Barry (2/1), Boyhood (4/1), Virginia Chick (14/1), I'm Here (16/1)

Probably sensible to concentrate on the top three here and COMMODORE BARRY is suggested on his return from a summer break, after a promising effort on his chase debut, and in receipt of 5lb from both Boyhood and Padleyourowncanoe. The latter has shown his better form on less testing ground than that, which is a bit of a concern, while Tom George's runner needs to bounce back after a lack lustre return.