Oval Partnership Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:47 | Winning time: 7m 0.90s

Ballyhome⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 122| C| D

13/8

Made chase debut against Wholestone in a match at Perth (2m4f; heavy) in September. Booked for second spot but nearly fell, and jockey did the right thing to pull him up. Needs to jump better but is not discounted.

Form: 5321-6P

Sojourn^t²¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 117| BF

3/1

Has some smart form to his name, but was very disappointing when only third at Warwick (2m5f; good) in April on final start of last season. Still lightly raced though, and has potential to be above-average.

Form: 4/133-

Thelongwayaround¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 115| D

7/1

This is a drop in class compared to the race he ran in on chase debut at Sedgefield (2m3f; soft) last month. Should find this much more to his liking, and stable's runners tend to improve from their seasonal reappearances.

Form: 52861-4

Shanty Alley²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: B I Case| OR: 114

7/2

Well-beaten on chase debut when fifth at Huntingdon (2m4f; good), but finished comfortably in front of Oregon Gold. Steps up to further than 2m4f for the first time which could bring about some improvement.

Form: 47185-5

Big Difference²³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: B Pauling| OR: 113| C

6/1

Ended last season on a high when winning at the fifth time of asking over hurdles at Market Rasen (2m7f; good to soft). Looks made for chasing and should be thereabouts, but yard form is a major worry.

Form: P50/971-

Oregon Gold^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: N Kent| OR: 107| C

25/1

Ran in accordance with odds of 50-1 when failing to land a blow on chase debut at Huntingdon (2m4f; good) last month. Considerably more is needed as he steps back up in trip. Difficult to fancy.

Form: 3116P-0

Forecasts

Ballyhome (13/8), Sojourn (3/1), Shanty Alley (7/2), Big Difference (6/1), Thelongwayaround (7/1), Oregon Gold (25/1)

A tricky puzzle to solve, with Ballyhome considered due to the excellent form of the Fergal O'Brien yard at present. He needs to jump a lot better than he did on his chase debut but should find this contest ran more to his liking. Big Difference should take his form to a higher level over fences this season, but he is perhaps best left alone until his yard begin to fire on all cylinders. Similar comments apply to Thelongwayaround, though he had no easy task when running in behind Windsor Avenue at Sedgefield last month. A chance is taken on SOJOURN whose recent run is best to forgive, as he could be in a different league to his rivals judged on his bumper form.