bet365 Novices' Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:01 | Winning time: 6m 20.4s

Shan Blue¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 146| C| D

10/11

Useful hurdler who (5/4) made excellent start over fences when wide-margin winner of 8-runner novice here (19.4f, good) 16 days ago. More to come and should stay 3m so firmly in the mix.

Form: F1326-1

Hold The Note^p²³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: M R Channon| OR: 146

3/1

Failed to win over fences but quickly made into smart novice last term, placed in 3m Grade 2 at Warwick and Listed Handicap at Cheltenham last two outings. Lacks recent run but still the one to beat.

Form: 12/3P23-

I K Brunel²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Adrian Heskin| T: O Murphy| OR: 139| D

9/2

Looks made for chasing and (13/8) made a highly promising start after 8 months off when close second of 5 in novice at Fontwell (21.6f, soft) 28 days ago. Sure to progress and add to two hurdle wins.

Form: 6/1841-2

Snow Leopardess³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 126

15/2

Has come to chasing quite late but shaped encouragingly after 9 months off when (5/1) debut third of 5 in novice at Bangor (24f, good to soft) 31 days ago. Has more to offer but this is no easy ask.

Form: 311/92-3

Forecasts

Shan Blue (10/11), Hold The Note (3/1), I K Brunel (9/2), Snow Leopardess (15/2)

All four are in with a shout but HOLD THE NOTE rates the clear form pick and can put his added experience to excellent use to gain an overdue first chasing success. Both I K Brunel and Shan Blue arrive on the back of highly promising first efforts over fences so are much respected in an intriguing novice chase.