Watch On Racing TV Now! Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 13:17 | Winning time: 5m 3.6s

Mr Clarkson^b,t¹²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 136| BF| C

5/1

Dual 2m1f hurdle winner at this track. Latest win came at Cartmel in July, when 8lb lower. Well held back there next time and not seen since August. Looks a potentially useful recruit to this sphere and entitled to plenty of respect on chase debut.

Form: PP6-115

Darlac²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 134| D

3/1

Fast ground maiden hurdle winner (2m3f) at Fontwell 15-months ago and very useful over hurdles at his best. Began well over fences at Fontwell in October and improved here over C&D (soft) last time. Contender.

Form: 77P-2F3

As I See It³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 129| C

3/1

Won a Huntingdon maiden hurdle (3m1f, soft) in March 2018, but after one more run he was off for 18-months until scoring here (2m7f) last October. Fell latest, but plenty of untapped potential on his chase debut. Interesting.

Form: 2310/1F

Musical Slave⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 128

6/1

Completed a hurdling hat-trick last spring (2m-2m5f), when looking useful. Way below that level in two chases this season, however. Plenty to prove now, and testing ground not ideal.

Form: 511-158

Darling Maltaix^h³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 125

2/1

Ascot handicap hurdle winner (2m5½f, soft) last season, when 3lb lower. Has been consistent since then, despite not winning. Held over further back at Ascot last time, but drops 3lb and in trip here, and could be a different proposition.

Form: 155F-45

Forecasts

Darling Maltaix (2/1), Darlac (3/1), As I See It (3/1), Mr Clarkson (5/1), Musical Slave (6/1)

A tough race to call, with Darling Maltaix a probable contender back down in trip and now sliding in the weights, plus chase newcomer Mr Clarkson, who showed a good level of form over hurdles. Darlac is also going the right way in this sphere, but the suggestion is AS I SEE IT, who is another chase debutant who is very much of interest, despite failing to complete over hurdles last time.