Happy Birthday Amanda And Megan Ellison Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:03 | Winning time: 5m 54.28s

Detatched²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J McGrath| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 104

4/1

0-5 over hurdles, but ran his best race so far when just over 4L second of eight in a soft ground Warwick handicap (2m) last time. As a point winner, this step up in trip should suit, and it would be no surprise to see him go close on chase debut.

Form: P-8P852

Miss Zip^b¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 93| CD

7/2

C&D winner (soft) last time out by a decisive margin. That was a much improved effort, for which she has gone up 8lb. If she can repeat that effort then she still looks well treated from this mark.

Form: 6545P1

Bertie Blake^p¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 87| C

13/8

Dual 2m4f hurdles winner here on his last two starts. Couldn't get involved on only previous try over fences at Newcastle (2m7f) in November, but may be better suited by this trip and is interesting after just a 3lb rise.

Form: 4-08511

Farran Dancer^p1³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: R P McLernon| T: R M Smith| OR: 86

12/1

Irish point winner (sixth attempt) last March. Beaten a long way in all four starts under rules so far, and cheekpieces need to have a dramatic effect for him to win this.

Form: P19-053

Pc Dixon¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: V Thompson| OR: 80

11/2

1-28 over hurdles, but placed just twice in 10 attempts in this discipline. Could give him a chance based on his Hexham second (3m, heavy) in December, but that win ratio is offputting.

Form: F62P46

Zakety Zak^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: C Grant| OR: 72| D

66/1

Sole win came in a novices' handicap hurdle at Wetherby in 2016. Was off for almost three years until recently, but is impossible to recommend on his three runs since that absence.

Form: 148/0PU

Clondaw Fixer²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 68

16/1

0-7 under rules, and yet to finish in the money. Has no form in the book yet that can recommend him from 10lb out of the handicap.

Form: PP-P745

Forecasts

Bertie Blake (13/8), Miss Zip (7/2), Detatched (4/1), Pc Dixon (11/2), Farran Dancer (12/1), Clondaw Fixer (16/1), Zakety Zak (66/1)

Detached looks an interesting chase debutant who could go well from this mark, but preference is for MISS ZIP. Admittedly she has to back up her latest effort, but if she can go close to doing so, then that may prove good enough to land this weak race. Bertie Blake will be better suited by this trip and should also be involved.