Complete Jumps Story On Racing TV Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:42 | Winning time: 4m 31.64s

Ettila De Sivola^b¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 118| D

7/4

Well backed when a game winner at Newcastle (2m½f, soft) on the weekend before Christmas; has always possessed a fair degree of ability (albeit hasn't progressed as swiftly as expected); shouldn't be unduly troubled by a 5lb weights rise.

Form: 132-541

Martila⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 116| BF| CD

11/8

Won over hurdles here (2m, heavy) in November 2017, and also made the frame behind Elvis Mail on her penultimate start; wasn't altogether convincing when third to the keen Rose Sea Has (beaten since) on chasing debut at Sedgefield (2m½f, soft).

Form: 50-4233

Dr Hooves^t²¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 112WS

10/1

Runner-up on four of his seven career starts (bumpers and novice hurdles); by Yeats and a brother to the winning chaser Mossbank he has the potential to make his mark over fences (debut); first competitive start for 219 days.

Form: 229/2-29

Manetti⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 108

9/2

Won a couple of 3m Irish points for Ian Ferguson in the spring of 2018 before joining Nick Alexander for £32,000; disappointing since (0-7), twice lacking any real degree of fluency over fences at this track (2m4½f); drops back to 2m.

Form: 3454-4P

Forecasts

Martila (11/8), Ettila De Sivola (7/4), Manetti (9/2), Dr Hooves (10/1)

Martila wasn't altogether convincing on her chasing debut at Sedgefield (third) although is preferred to the returning Dr Hooves and the generally disappointing Manetti. However, she'll need to improve in order to trouble the game Newcastle scorer ETTILA DE SIVOLA. This six-year-old is arguably one of the most exciting horses at James Ewart's Langholm base. With that first success over fences under his belt, he's fancied to kick on positively and prove himself better than a 118-rated handicapper.