Ballathie House Hotel Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:42 | Winning time: 4m 7.31s

Slanelough²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Dobbin| OR: 121| D

10/11

Cashed in on a career-low mark to finally got off the mark in this sphere at Ayr (16.5f, good) 26 days ago. Back up 4 lb now but he's still not taken lightly.

Form: 232F61-

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Away At Dawn^h²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 120

10/3

Fairly useful winning hurdler who arrives in good nick, just failing in Market Rasen novice (16.6f, good) 23 days ago, Interesting contender on his chase debut.

Form: 624622-

Better Getalong³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 118| D

12/1

Fairly useful 2m winner at his best over hurdles but yet to get close to that form in two runs over fences, remote fifth of 7 in handicap chase at Carlisle (15.9f, good) 39 days ago. More needed.

Form: 2/P6635-

Royal Reserve⁵⁹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 107| BF| D

11/1

Fairly useful Flat/hurdler at his best in 2018/19. Back from 19 months off now for his fencing bow with others much preferred.

Form: 373534/

Schmidt^p⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: James Bowen| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 103| D

9/1

It's been a while since he last put his best foot forward and he fared no better for the fitting of cheekpieces when remote fourth in handicap chase at Ayr (20.5f, heavy) 8 days ago. Hard to warm to.

Form: 09P87-4

Morningside⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: R P McLernon| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 100

11/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler, only sixth of 7 in handicap at Kelso (25.8f, good to soft) 51 days ago. Tries his luck chasing now and others appeal more.

Form: 1/04426-

Non-Runners

Check My Pulse²²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: R Menzies J: Henry Brooke

Forecasts

Slanelough (10/11), Away At Dawn (10/3), Check My Pulse (13/2), Schmidt (9/1), Morningside (11/1), Royal Reserve (11/1), Better Getalong (12/1)

Four chasing newcomers means this isn't the easiest of races to assess, and a chance is taken on Donald McCain's AWAY AT DAWN to make a winning start over fences given he arrives in excellent form over hurdles and was runner-up on his only points run. Slanelough rates the obvious threat on the back of his breakthrough Ayr success, while Check My Pulse is another fencing debutant worth considering.