Close Brothers Henry VIII Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 3m 58.8s

Do Your Job^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: R P McLernon| T: M Scudamore| OR: 143| D

20/1

Smart novice hurdler last season and this point winner made a successful start to his chase career in 2m Warwick novice last month. No reason why he won't prove at least as good over fences.

Form: 12422-1

Edwardstone¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 149| D

3/1

Smart and reliable hurdler who was brought down 4 out in the Warwick race won by Do Your Job on his chase debut and gained compensation back there 12 days later. Should go well.

Form: 1353-B1

Minella Drama^h²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 149| BF| D

6/1

Smart hurdler who made winning start over fences in 2m Uttoxeter novice handicap. Edged out by War Lord in Carlisle graduation event since but it was still a decent run. Remains capable of better.

Form: 1212-12

Stolen Silver^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| OR: 145| BF| D

14/1

Made a winning start for new trainer Sam Thomas in 3-runner Market Rasen novice handicap in October. Better form (smart) when narrowly denied in Cheltenham handicap since but this tougher again.

Form: 32P8-12

Third Time Lucki²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 152| D

9/5

Useful winning hurdler who has returned from wind surgery with a pair of novice chase wins at Cheltenham, the latter a Grade 2 by 4¾ lengths from Sebastopol. The one to beat again.

Form: 1464-11

War Lord²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 146| D

10/1

Useful hurdler who has fast made up into a smart chaser, winning Newton Abbot novice handicap before fending off Minella Drama in Carlisle graduation event. More to come.

Form: 3047-11

Il Ridoto^t⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143| D

6/1

Pretty useful over hurdles/fences in France. Comfortably held by War Lord on Newton Abbot British debut but proved a different proposition when readily landing a Newbury handicap last week. Player.

Form: 11F2-31

Forecasts

Third Time Lucki (9/5), Edwardstone (3/1), Minella Drama (6/1), Il Ridoto (6/1), War Lord (10/1), Stolen Silver (14/1), Do Your Job (20/1)

THIRD TIME LUCKI has been an impressive winner of his 2 chase starts at Cheltenham and is fancied to provide Dan and Harry Skelton with back-to-back wins in this contest. Paul Nicholls has a record 7 wins in this so it's interesting that he fast tracks Il Ridoto to Grade 1 company after his Newbury handicap success last week and he's feared most ahead of Edwardstone in a good renewal.