Virgin Bet Novices' Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 6m 22.51s

Dusart²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 141

2/7

Made winning debut in novice hurdle at Newbury in November 2020 before good third in Grade 1 at Aintree 5 months later. Off the mark on chase bow at Leicester 3 weeks ago and is open to improvement.

Form: 13-1

Captain Cuckoo^p¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 98

40/1

Back to near best form when second in Chepstow novice (23.6f, heavy) early last month but didn't get very far back in handicap company at Fakenham since, unseating at the third. Out of depth here.

Form: F-5P42U

Flash Collonges^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 138| C

3/1

Signed off productive novice hurdle campaign last season by landing a Kelso handicap. Has failed to make much impact in a couple of starts in this sphere but it's too early to write him off.

Form: F211-3P

Reign Suepreme⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Mrs N S Evans| D

66/1

Imperial Monarch gelding. Half-brother to fair hurdler Sue Be It. Dam (h96), 2½m/2¾m hurdle winner, half-sister to useful hurdler/chaser (2m-2¾m winner) For Bill. Winning Irish pointer (Dec 12).

Form: 5P2/PF1

Non-Runners

Pats Fancy³⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: Miss R Curtis J: Ben Jones

Forecasts

Dusart (2/7), Pats Fancy (13/8), Flash Collonges (3/1), Captain Cuckoo (40/1), Reign Suepreme (66/1)

Both PATS FANCY and Dusart are open to any amount of improvement but preference is for the former, who made it 2-3 in this sphere at Chepstow just over 5 weeks ago and looks a chaser destined for bigger and better things. Nicky Henderson's charge rates as a major danger provided he can brush up on his jumping technique, while it's too early to be writing off Flash Collonges, also.