Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 7m 46.37s

Christmas In April^p1⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 120| BF

4/5

Hurdles winner has steadily progressed in four chases so far culminating in his second over this trip at Chepstow latest. Cheekpieces added may just benefit as his concentration isn't always where it should be and leading contender now.

Form: 30053-2

Gleno²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 112| C

7/2

3-8 record over hurdles showed him a progressive individual but not looked natural over fences with a last place, unseated rider and pulled up so far in three starts. Capable if and when he gets his jumping act together but risky at present.

Form: 161-7UP

Lord Condi¹²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: L P Aspell| T: M Keighley| OR: 111| C

20/1

Won three times last season over hurdles but ended campaign with three consecutive pulled-ups. Probably will be better now for subsequent break but others preferred as he makes his first venture over fences.

Form: 102-PPP

Tea Time On Mars⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 108

11/4

Second chase start today and didn't run at all badly on his first at Chepstow, a bad mid-race mistake halting his progress; needs to cut that out, but has scope for better and cannot be ruled out if taking another step forward.

Form: 7P881-6

Non-Runners

Manofthemountain¹²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: Adam Wedge

Mab Dab³⁶

Weight: 10-6| Age: 8

T: Mrs L C Jewell J: Brendan Powell

Forecasts

Christmas In April (4/5), Manofthemountain (7/4), Tea Time On Mars (11/4), Gleno (7/2), Mab Dab (14/1), Lord Condi (20/1)

This looks a bit of a match-race on paper between CHRISTMAS IN APRIL and Manofthemountain. The former gets the nod having run so well in a similar slog at Chepstow latest; cheekpieces could be a real boost to this sometimes quirky individual. The latter lost his unbeaten record over fences when unseating latest but he is still feared despite a 6lb rise for his Southwell success the time before. Tea Time On Mars outran 50/1 odds for a long way at Chepstow and that combined with him winning his final start over hurdles suggest a horse on the up.