BetVictor Novices' Chase

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 4.85s

Hitman²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 151| BF

1/7

Impressive on British/chase debut at Ffos Las prior to chasing home smart novice Allmankind in Sandown Grade 1. Fell last time, but his jumping is generally sound and he's very hard to oppose here.

Form: 2P1-12F

Captain Cuckoo⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: Mark Gillard

18/1

Nine-race maiden pointer who didn't make much of an impact on recent Rules debut in a Catterick novice chase.

Form: F33/F4-4

Colonel Custard¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 127

13/2

Capable hurdler, but beaten a fair way back from a 14-month layoff on chase debut at Leicester 16 days ago.

Form: 9/3257-3

Non-Runners

Getaway Trump²⁸

Weight: 11-8| Age: 8

T: P F Nicholls J: 2nd Preference

Forecasts

Hitman (1/7), Getaway Trump (10/3), Colonel Custard (13/2), Captain Cuckoo (18/1)

It's impossible to look beyond HITMAN, who has created a very good impression in his 2 completed starts over fences and this race will serve as an aperitif ahead of a potential tilt at the Marsh Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 12 days time. With stablemate Getaway Trump due to run at Doncaster, Colonel Custard should claim second-place money ahead of Captain Cuckoo.