Claudio's 50th Birthday Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:23 | Winning time: 4m 58.9s

Morgenstern^b,t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 105

85/40

Four-time hurdles winner in France. Form has been patchy since crossing the Channel, though latest second of 4 at Fontwell was one of his better efforts. A reproduction of that should see him firmly in the mix down in class.

Form: 2PP232

Jobesgreen Lad^t⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 104

15/8

Progressive since switched to chasing and seemed to have plenty in hand when scoring at Hereford. Looked the winner's main threat for most of the straight at Exeter since so remains of interest back down in class.

Form: 272114

Too Much To Ask³¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: C Gethings| T: J Candlish| OR: 102

12/1

Capitalised on reduced mark when winning 11-runner handicap hurdle at Cartmel in May. Off since but only 2 lb higher ahead of belated chase bow. Often held up.

Form: 7/70-641

Largy Mouth^p,t¹²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁵⁾| T: S England| OR: 91

9/2

Patchy form for Brian Ellison and hasn't fared any better for new yard. Makes chase debut.

Form: 48-655F

Arbennig^t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 84

5/1

Promising third in a Hereford bumper last season. Failed to build on that in 2m hurdles and offered little on chase/handicap debut at Chepstow last month.

Form: 3-630P

Nyoufsea^p¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: A Sadik| OR: 71

40/1

Failed to progress over hurdles and has struggled over fences this season for current connections. Very hard to make a case for from out of the handicap.

Form: 6434P4

Stinggrey^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: M Young| OR: 69

100/1

Failed to complete on 2 of his 3 starts between the flags and well beaten in 3 starts over hurdles. Tailed off when falling 3 out on chase/handicap bow in this headgear at Wincanton 3 weeks ago. Out of the handicap and easy to look elsewhere.

Form: F7/408F

Forecasts

Jobesgreen Lad (15/8), Morgenstern (85/40), Largy Mouth (9/2), Arbennig (5/1), Too Much To Ask (12/1), Nyoufsea (40/1), Stinggrey (100/1)

JOBESGREEN LAD was unable to complete the hat-trick at Exeter but he shaped better than the bare result so can quickly resume winning ways back down in class. Morgenstern finished second in a better race than this at Fontwell 12 days ago so is the obvious threat.