Watch Irish Racing On RacingTV Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 4m 20.20s

Court Royale²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 122| D

5/1

Three-time winner over hurdles but 0-5 over fences so far and hasn't gone on from early promise shown at Newton Abbot and Ludlow in the autumn. Eased 3lb by the assessor but must bounce back.

Form: 322F45

Dorking Cock^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 121| C| D

4/6

Dual hurdles winner (including here) and much-improved on fourth chase starts when dropped to this trip at Chepstow four weeks ago; scoring with something in hand. Capable of further improvement in small field despite going up 7lb.

Form: 12-6441

Fanzio^h⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 118| D

3/1

Couple of wins over hurdles last year but took a spill in December on most recent start in that sphere and initial rating seemingly demands a bit more now going over fences for the first time.

Form: 83-217F

Relkadam⁴²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 110

16/1

Shaped nicely in a novice hurdle here in November 2018 after arriving from France but didn't give his running next time at Sedgefield and now must defy 423-day absence on chase introduction.

Form: P544/3P-

Forecasts

Dorking Cock (4/6), Fanzio (3/1), Court Royale (5/1), Relkadam (16/1)

Tom Lacey's DORKING COCK is a course winner over timber and improved nicely when dropped to this trip over fences at Chepstow last time. He's got an extra 7lb to deal with for that win but this looks a presentable chance for the follow on a course that has served him well before. Court Royale is the danger from a declining mark if he can recapture the promise of his autumn form. Fanzio can have a say should he take to chasing at the first attempt.