bresbet.com Novices' Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 3m 56.23s

Annual Invictus²²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 136| D

11/2

Ended last season on the up over hurdles, bagging a hat-trick before fine Newbury handicap fourth in February. Point winner who is an interesting chasing prospect.

Form: 5/21114-

Faivoir¹⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 144| DWS

5/2

Useful hurdler who signed off for last term with his fifth success in Cheltenham novice in April. Goes chasing now after a wind op and he's well worth considering.

Form: 411311-

Frimeur De Lancray²²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Ryan Mania| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 122

33/1

Opened his account over hurdles in Catterick novice before signing off with respectable fourth at Wetherby. Sort to take to fences, but others possess better hurdling form here.

Form: 5F/414-

Milkwood⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 151| D

11/8

Developed into a smart 2m hurdler last term and returned with excellent second of 20 in Galway handicap in July. Strong-travelling type who is a most interesting chasing prospect.

Form: 43031-2

Shantou Express¹⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 140| BF| DWS

6/1

Made up into a useful 2m hurdler last term, but he trailed in last in Haydock handicap on his final run in the spring. Back from 6-month absence now after a breathing op and can't be ruled out.

Form: 211527-

Maskada²⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 132| BF| D

14/1

Fairly useful hurdler who scored at Hereford and Newbury. Consistent sort, and much respected on her first go over fences.

Form: 153122-

Forecasts

Milkwood (11/8), Faivoir (5/2), Annual Invictus (11/2), Shantou Express (6/1), Maskada (14/1), Frimeur De Lancray (33/1)

Plenty of potential on show in a most intriguing novice chase, but it's hard to oppose MILKWOOD who has the best hurdling form on offer and advertised his well-being with a fine second in a hot Galway handicap earlier in the summer. Neil Mulholland's smart sort is taken to go in at the chief expense of fellow chasing debutant Annual Invictus with another promising sort in Faivoir next on the list.