Betway Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 5m 29.12s

Diable De Sivola^v²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: Capt W B Ramsay⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 112

18/1

Well-handicapped judged on peak form, but failed to fire in 4 starts last term and record over fences stands at 0-16 following an inauspicious reappearance effort for new connections in December.

Form: 4/4PP5-6

Bollingerandkrug^p1,t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 109

10/3

Dual hurdles winner last term and while he failed to build on chase debut promise when fourth at Ayr (16.5f) last time, this step back up in trip will help. Cheekpieces applied.

Form: 5171-34

Pitempton Power²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Callum Bewley| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 105

2/1

Winless following 7 attempts over hurdles, but immediate improvement for the switch to fences when scoring at Carlisle (2m) last month. Raised just 3 lb and big player moving back up in trip here.

Form: F32-451

Castletown^b²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 99| D

8/1

Still well there when falling 2 out in a Perth handicap chase in May. However, he's 0-21 in this sphere and a poor reappearance effort over hurdles here merely underlined his inconsistency.

Form: 4335-F9

Balranald^p¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 95

11/1

Failed to strike in 15 attempts over hurdles but made first start over fences a winning one at Sedgefield in November. Subsequent Catterick effort was rather underwhelming, though.

Form: 248916

Carry On The Magic^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 95

5/2

No more than minor promise in 4 runs over hurdles, but he was runner-up on sole start between the flags (substance to that form) and may prove to be a different proposition now switched to fences.

Form: 2/90-77

Forecasts

Pitempton Power (2/1), Carry On The Magic (5/2), Bollingerandkrug (10/3), Castletown (8/1), Balranald (11/1), Diable De Sivola (18/1)

The most solid option is PITEMPTON POWER, who immediately stepped up on his hurdles exploits when making a winning chase debut at Carlisle and he should have more to offer in this sphere. There's good reason to believe that Carry On The Magic may also leave his hurdling form behind now tackling the larger obstacles for his top yard and he is next on the list ahead of Bollingerandkrug.