Holker Hall & Gardens Beginners' Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 4m 13.2s

Beach Break^p1⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 126| CD

9/2

Fairly useful winning hurdler but last of 5 in 2m handicap at Newcastle 49 days ago. Makes chase debut now with cheekpieces on. Sort to bounce back.

Form: 8/43105-

Black Kraken^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 115| CD

11/1

Lightly-raced 2m1f winner over hurdles. Goes over fences now and no forlorn hope.

Form: 7186-

Check My Pulse³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: R Menzies| OR: 112

14/1

Fair 2m winner over hurdles, though below form this spring. Needs to get back on track now making chase bow.

Form: 315247-

Fugitives Drift³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 129

6/5

Useful winning hurdler around 2m4f last winter but well below par this spring. Goes chasing now and not dismissed for leading yard.

Form: 110653-

Gennady⁴³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 120

12/1

Fair hurdler in 2019/20, scoring at Newcastle. Back from 14 months off now for his fencing bow with his fitness a concern. Market can prove a good indicator.

Form: 143192/

Thatsy²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: B Butterworth| OR: 130

3/1

Useful ex-Irish hurdler. Yet to score over fences, though good second in 2m handicap chase at Down Royal 26 days ago on final run for Denise Foster. Player for new yard.

Form: 45640-2

Forecasts

Fugitives Drift (6/5), Thatsy (3/1), Beach Break (9/2), Black Kraken (11/1), Gennady (12/1), Check My Pulse (14/1)

Not the easiest race to assess, but ex-Irish THATSY arrives in good nick and with plenty of experience over fences so is taken to open his account for his new handler. Chasing debutants Beach Break and Fugitives Drift appeal as the pick of the remainder and can chase home the selection in that order in a race where the market should prove highly informative.