William Hill Extra Places Every Day Novices' Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 6m 55.34s

Empire Steel³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 130| C

11/10

Promising type who made winning chase debut at this course (20.5f, heavy) 35 days ago, pushed out. Return to stiffer test should suit and holds strong claims.

Form: 4/3313-1

Hear No Evil³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: N C Kelly| OR: 122| D

11/1

Much improved in this sphere when winning 12-runner handicap at Wetherby (24.2f, soft) 30 days ago. Open to further progress and not taken lightly.

Form: 9-60361

Mayo Star²⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 125| C

4/1

Fairly useful hurdler who scored twice on return from lengthy absence earlier this year. In good hands and well worth a check in market on return/chase debut.

Form: 2132/11-

Oh No^t³³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Ross Chapman| T: M A Barnes| OR: 89

200/1

Unreliable sort. Still looking for first success and has plenty on his plate back from 11 months off here.

Form: 80/03RP-

Skandiburg⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: O Murphy| OR: 136| D

3/1

Much improved over hurdles last season, winning at Aintree and Cheltenham over this trip. Disappointed on debut over larger obstacles at Fakenham but it's still early days in this discipline.

Form: 1/2110-4

Skiddaw Tara²⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 119

17/2

Found improvement to get off the mark over hurdles at Carlisle when last seen 9 months ago. Makes chasing bow now but looks stable second string, judged by jockey bookings.

Form: 7/43241-

Forecasts

Empire Steel (11/10), Skandiburg (3/1), Mayo Star (4/1), Skiddaw Tara (17/2), Hear No Evil (11/1), Oh No (200/1)

Course winner EMPIRE STEEL should relish this stiffer test and is taken to follow up last month's success. Irish-raider Hear No Evil rates the principal danger.