SG Estates Novices' Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:21 | Winning time: 4m 56.62s

Geromino^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 129| D

11/8

Four-time winner last season who comes here on the back of good second of 3 in handicap chase at Uttoxeter (20f) 24 days ago. Useful and the one to beat.

Form: 81F-242

Not At Present^p¹⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Luca Morgan⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 123| C

9/4

Fairly useful hurdler. Blinkered for 1st time when well-beaten fifth in River Don Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster (24.4f). Off 6 months ahead of his chase debut with a bit to prove.

Form: 121115-

Time Flies By⁵⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: N J Henderson| OR: 125| BF

7/4

Fairly useful bumper winner who matched that form over hurdles when twice second. Returns from 18 months off now for his chasing debut with his fitness to prove.

Form: 235292/

Non-Runners

Mortlach¹³

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: F O'Brien J: Jack Hogan

Forecasts

Geromino (11/8), Time Flies By (7/4), Not At Present (9/4), Mortlach (9/4)

GEROMINO is the only one of the quartet who arrives in good recent form so he is taken to open his account for the season. Mortlach hails from a yard in excellent nick so is next on the list ahead of chasing-debutants Not At Present and Time Flies By.