Weatherbys Racing Diaries Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 5m 4.6s

Empire De Maulde²⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Ewart| OR: 120WS

14/1

Multiple bumper winner abroad and arrives here for his chase debut after a break/wind surgery, having won his last two hurdles of last season at Newcastle and Doncaster. Up 4lb for the latter, and remains of interest.

Form: 44/3711-

Monsieur D'Arque^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton| OR: 119

14/1

Ludlow maiden hurdle winner (2m, good) in February. Looked useful then, but couldn't maintain that form. Step back in right direction on chase debut at Southwell recently, and no surprise to see him have a big say here.

Form: 4414-06

Carrigmoorna Matt²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: Paula Smith| OR: 115| D

4/1

Ended last season with selling hurdles wins for Neil Mulholland at Stratford and Wetherby over similar trips to this. Well beaten in both starts back in handicaps for this trainer, and looks one to watch in first chase start since January 2018.

Form: 4711-65

Pogue^t1⁵²

5/2

Placed in all four hurdles starts over 2m-2m3½f, all on good to soft or soft ground. Returns for chase debut after wind surgery and with tongue-tie fitted and wouldn't have to improve much to have a big chance from this mark.

Form: 21322-2

Mance Rayder^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: H Hogarth| OR: 112| D

33/1

Debut bumper winner (soft) when with Philip Hobbs in 2017. Added hurdle success here (2m3½f) for this trainer in February, when 6lb lower. Pulled up on chase debut and slipped up early last time, so bit to prove now.

Form: 9231-PS

Mah Mate Bob²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 108| D

2/1

Mudlark who has run consistently well in all three chases, winning two of them at up to this sort of trip, and producing his best effort last time. Up just 3lb for that, and looks to have every chance again.

Form: 214-311

Almazhar Garde⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 114| BF

9/2

Peak hurdles effort came in a Huntingdon novice event in October, but handicapper was asking plenty of him on his chase debut at Huntingdon last time, and a 2lb drop for this suggests he needs a fair bit of improvement.

Form: 5-44846

Non-Runners

Inca Gold³³

Weight: 10-13| Age: 5

T: B Haslam J: R P McLernon

Forecasts

Mah Mate Bob (2/1), Pogue (5/2), Carrigmoorna Matt (4/1), Almazhar Garde (9/2), Inca Gold (8/1), Monsieur D'Arque (14/1), Empire De Maulde (14/1), Mance Rayder (33/1)

Empire De Maulde is clearly of interest having won his last two hurdles starts, but he been off for some time and could be forgiven for needing this reappearance on his chase debut. Also making his first appearance over fences is POGUE, and with his trainer's good record here to fuel confidence and soft ground a positive, he may prove up to the task. Mah Mate Bob is another likely to be popular with punters and is feared in opposition, while Inca Gold and Monsieur D'Arque are others of interest in a competitive event.