Happy New Year Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 5m 1.14s

Mario De Pail²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Stan Sheppard| T: S Thomas| OR: 136

10/3

Useful hurdles winner who produced a promising first effort over fences when runner-up on return at Ffos Las (21f) in October. Possibilities if subsequent Chepstow fall hasn't dented his confidence.

Form: P/515-2F

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Gustavian^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 135| BF| C

2/1

Dual hurdles winner last term and promising start over fences following a wind op when third on return in 2½m Uttoxeter handicap. Wasn't overly knocked about that day and improvement is on the cards.

Form: 22113-3

Broken Halo^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 127

9/2

Winning pointer who got off the mark over hurdles at Wincanton in March. Left poor reappearance run behind when third on chase debut at Chepstow (23.6f) and he's open to progress in this sphere.

Form: 1/P13-P3

Clemencia^t⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 125

22/1

Fairly useful hurdler, but doesn't have the look of a chasing type and he didn't get very far on debut over fences at Chepstow on Monday.

Form: F47-F7U

Longshanks²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 117

2/1

Winner of Wincanton novice hurdle on final run of last term. Third in handicaps both starts switched to fences this season, latterly behind a smart prospect over this C&D, and he's not discounted.

Form: 6F51-33

Forecasts

Longshanks (2/1), Gustavian (2/1), Mario De Pail (10/3), Broken Halo (9/2), Clemencia (22/1)

GUSTAVIAN shaped well under a considerate ride when third on his reappearance/chase debut at Uttoxeter, form which was done no harm when the runner-up there also found just one too good at Newbury on Wednesday. He is entitled to come on for that run and earns the narrow vote ahead of Broken Halo, who made a similarly promising start over fences at Chepstow. Longshanks also merits respect.