Legal Eagle Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 4m 6.4s

Wasdell Dundalk^p²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 118| CD

1/1

Dual winner over hurdles here last summer, both at 2m on good ground). Ran poorly back here following a break, but that run was probably needed and he'll be a threat if taking to fences at the first attempt.

Form: 31136-6

Fabrique En France^p,t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 113

10/11

Encouraging start over fences when runner-up at Chepstow on return in November. Rather disappointing since, but he's of strong interest here nonetheless.

Form: P3/252-3

Nyoufsea⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: A Sadik| OR: 69

25/1

Very hard to make a case for here given that he's 24 lb 'wrong' at the weights/.

Form: 34P4P-P

Non-Runners

Byzantine Empire⁵⁶

Weight: 12-0| Age: 5

T: F O'Brien J: P J Brennan

Forecasts

Fabrique En France (10/11), Wasdell Dundalk (1/1), Byzantine Empire (6/4), Nyoufsea (25/1)

BYZANTINE EMPIRE and Wasdell Dundalk both make plenty of appeal now switched to fences off workable marks. Marginal preference is for the former, who was a pretty reliable performer over hurdles. Fabrique En France has chase experience to draw upon and he is greatly respected, too.