Paul Ferguson's Jumpers To Follow Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 4m 21.74s

Espion De Saflo²¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-5| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 122

6/1

Won 2m3f French hurdle at Nantes a year ago and restricted to just two starts last spring since joining current yard, showing some ability. Lot of weight on seasonal return but handles conditions so chance if fully wound up.

Form: 654144-

Elisezmoi²⁰²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 115

12/1

Stable companion of Espion De Saflo. Won heavy ground Fonainebleu hurdle last November in testing ground but didn't show much in two starts this side of the Channel in the spring. First run for 202 days and makes chasing debut.

Form: 2510U-

Song Of The Sky^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann| OR: 113

9/4

Four-time Flat winner in Ireland, including on heavy ground over 1m4f. Yet to strike in 14 attempts over both hurdles and fences, but experience may help here and was solid second over hurdles at Stratford last month so should be fit.

Form: 2-74322

Super Snipe^t1⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: David Noonan| T: R G Hawker| OR: 112WS

8/1

Runner-up in Taunton novice hurdle last December for Jeremy Scott but otherwise disappointing. Poor debut for current handler when well ebaten over hurdles at Warwick last month and has since undergone wind surgery. Tongue-tie now applied.

Form: 82685-0

Gregarious¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: L P Aspell| T: L Wadham| OR: 108| D

13/8

Four-time hurdles winner, including in heavy ground. Shaped with promise until tiring on seasonal reappearance at Ludlow last month and quite likley to be sharper now. More than capable of getting very much involved.

Form: 07130-6

Sunday At Augusta^h1²²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: James Davies| T: R Rowe| OR: 95WS

9/1

Ex-Irish maiden who has shown very little form in five starts since joining current yard and returns for first start since recent wind operation. First-time hood applied but hard to fancy.

Form: 2/8P870-

Forecasts

Gregarious (13/8), Song Of The Sky (9/4), Espion De Saflo (6/1), Super Snipe (8/1), Sunday At Augusta (9/1), Elisezmoi (12/1)

The mare SONG OF THE SKY has fitness on her side and is proven in heavy ground so may finally get her head in front over obstacles. Gary Moore's ex-French pair of top weight Espion De Saflo and Elisezmoi both have form in France in very soft gorund but have to overcome inexperience over fenecs and a long lay-off to score, but Gregarious shaped promsingly on his seasonal return at Ludlow and may give the selection most to do if taking to the chasing game.