Burns Pet Nutrition Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 5m 29.7s

Driftwood Haze¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: P C Dando| OR: 122| C

4/1

3-25 over hurdles, but remains inexperienced over fences after just two attempts. 2lb higher than his most recent hurdles success here, acts on soft and stays further than this. Not ruled out under 5lb claimer.

Form: 32417-5

The Rory Story³³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: M D Grant| T: J S Smith| OR: 120| D

14/1

Bumper and maiden hurdle winner at up to 2m3f in Ireland, when with Noel Meade. Didn't race between November 2017 and December last year, by which time he had joined this trainer, and was pulled up. Best watched on chase debut.

Form: 55184/P-

Golden Whisky²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 120| C

4/6

Won here over the equivalent trip when hurdling (soft) in January, from 4lb lower. Ran well at Chepstow (2m, soft) on his second attempt over fences last time out. Should be more to come over this trip. Interesting.

Form: 5210-P3

Some Can Dance³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁵⁾| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 118

7/2

Dual 3m1f winner at Carlisle over hurdles last season. 7lb higher than the better of those here. May have needed his reappearance, but does have a little bit to prove over this short, and after that run, now going chasing.

Form: 36131-0

Llantara^t²⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 114

8/1

Triple winner on heavy ground, including when last seen in a Hexham mares' handicap hurdle in March. Goes well fresh, and there is stamina in her pedigree, so optimism she will stay on her chase debut. Not ruled out.

Form: 511/331-

Forecasts

Golden Whisky (4/6), Some Can Dance (7/2), Driftwood Haze (4/1), Llantara (8/1), The Rory Story (14/1)

Driftwood Haze has not seen much action over fences, but that doesn't mean he can be confidently ruled out from this mark with his claimer up. He could go close, while Llantara is an interesting newcomer to this discipline. She needs a bit of improvement, but may be able to find that now jumping a fence. Clear preference, however, is for GOLDEN WHISKY, who should be capable of better now upped again in trip.