MansionBet Faller Insurance Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

5YO plus | Class 4 | 1m 7f 207y | 9 Runners | Turf

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 120

Ended last term on the up with 2½m hurdle wins at Musselburgh and Newcastle. Excellent start chasing when second in Sedgefield maiden on return and may well have got in lightly for handicap bow.

Form: 85311-2

O'Hanrahan Bridge⁷⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 119| BF| C

Deservedly opened his account in 3m handicap hurdle here in November. Failed to fire at Ayr next time, though, and needs to bounce back now switched to fences.

Form: 222-215

Jack Valentine²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 118| D

Bumper winner/hurdles winner who showed improved form to make a successful chase debut at Leicester. 6 lb rise fair (had a bit in hand that day) and there may well be better to come from this 8-y-o.

Form: 221-251

Kalaharry⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Callum Bewley| T: A C Whillans| OR: 115

Largely creditable efforts last term, culminating in a decent chase debut at Kelso where he was second in a 3-runner novice handicap. Below par on return over hurdles, though, and looks vulnerable.

Form: 51232-6

Calix Delafayette^b⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 109| D

Bumper/hurdles winner earlier in career, but very lightly raced in recent years and he hasn't taken particularly well to fences the last twice. Yard also saddles Beat Box.

Form: 513/3U-6

Maid O'Malley¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: D R Fox| T: W Coltherd| OR: 108

Fair hurdler who was tanking along nicely when falling at Newcastle on second chase start in December. Decent efforts in jumpers bumpers there since and remains open to improvement in this sphere.

Form: 3-32F37

Beat Box^p⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 109| D

Fair 2m hurdles winner. Made encouraging chasing bow when third in 2m handicap at Hexham, but has subsequently failed to build on that and others make more appeal.

Form: 413-353

Central Flame⁶⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 10-6| J: C O'Farrell| T: J Walton| OR: 100| C

Pretty useful in his prime and showed he still retains enough ability to make an impact off this sort of mark when going down only to an improver at Newcastle last time. Good each-way shout.

Form: 33/PP-52

Ashjan⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: R P McLernon| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 92

Dual hurdles winner in Ireland, but latest success was back in August 2018 and hasn't shown a great deal of spark in 5 runs for present connections.

Form: 746-646

Forecasts

Jack Valentine (13/8), Overcourt (10/3), O'Hanrahan Bridge (11/2), Maid O'Malley (15/2), Beat Box (10/1), Central Flame (10/1), Kalaharry (14/1), Calix Delafayette (25/1), Ashjan (50/1)

The vote goes to JACK VALENTINE, who scored with a fair bit left up his sleeve on last month's Leicester chase debut and a 6 lb rise almost certainly underestimates him. Overcourt is a much-respected main danger having also made a bright start over fences when second at Sedgefield in October. Maid O'Malley should pick up a race in this sphere before long and is most interesting of the remainder.