Call Star Sports On 08000 521 321 Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:22 | Winning time: 4m 20.1s

Little Rory Mac^h³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 121| D

3/1

Dual hurdles winner who didn't get very far on chase debut at Newcastle. Jumping still far from perfect when runner-up at Leicester (2m) last month but in form terms in was a fair effort.

Form: 51-42F2

Exelerator Express^t⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 119

13/8

Hurdles winner who has shaped encouragingly all 3 starts over fences, keeping on for third in a better-looking handicap than this at Newbury in December. Same mark here.

Form: 512-423

Maid O'Malley³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 108

9/1

Fair hurdler who was going 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

Knight Destroyer⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: William Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 108| CD

11/1

Handicap hurdle winner at Taunton from 3 lb higher in January 2020. Low-key chase start and didn't fare much better back over timber on Boxing Day.

Form: 351-4P8

Discko Des Plages^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: W T Kennedy| T: R Hobson| OR: 108

7/2

All the better for return when overcoming a poor round of jumping to win at Catterick in December. Left with a lot to do when third at Doncaster so likely still in form but needs to cut errors out.

Form: U61-613

Bang On^t1³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 105| D

12/1

Left low-key reappearance well behind when just edged out by an in-form rival at Bangor (16.7f) in December. Not in same form twice since and now switches to chasing.

Form: 84-8279

Forecasts

Exelerator Express (13/8), Little Rory Mac (3/1), Discko Des Plages (7/2), Maid O'Malley (9/1), Knight Destroyer (11/1), Bang On (12/1)

EXELERATOR EXPRESS has shaped with promise on all 3 chase starts so far, third in a stronger race than this at Newbury in December, and he ought to give a very good account of himself from the same mark. Discko des Plages could do with brushing up on his jumping but has to command respect.