Excloosive Event Hire Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 5m 13.82s

Karl Philippe²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 134| D

15/8

Bumper/hurdles winner who made it third time lucky over fences at Ludlow (2½m) in January. Followed up despite some sloppy jumping over the same C&D earlier this month and 4 lb rise could catch him out here.

Form: P3-2511

Yggdrasil³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: David Noonan| T: Nick Williams| OR: 122| D

11/8

Showed ability over hurdles, but has quickly made up into a better chaser, making it 2-3 in this sphere at Hereford (19f) last time, jumping soundly in the main. Nudged up just 3 lb and further progress is likely.

Form: 56-2131

Kakamora^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 120| D

5/2

Back-to-back hurdles winner last spring and stepped up on previous chase efforts when third at Wincanton in January. 9¾ lengths adrift of Karl Philippe at Ludlow since, but 6 lb better off with that rival now and forecast quicker ground may help.

Form: 11-3333

Uncle Henry⁹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Hugh Nugent⁽³⁾| T: S A Harris| OR: 117WS

66/1

Fair hurdler for Gordon Elliott, but offered precious little on chase debut for new yard at Doncaster in December. Has undergone a wind op.

Form: FF340P

Forecasts

Yggdrasil (11/8), Karl Philippe (15/8), Kakamora (5/2), Uncle Henry (66/1)

YGGDRASIL has made a positive start to his chase career and the best is surely yet to come from this 5-y-o, who put in a good round of jumping and stayed on well when narrowly prevailing at Hereford last time. The hat-trick seeking Karl Philippe is bound to be popular, but he made hard work of it at Ludlow and may struggle to confirm the placings with the third in that race Kakamora, who enjoys a 6 lb pull and is likely to appreciate the better ground here.