13:50 Ayr

Saturday 22 April 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

CPMS Novices' Champion Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 58.03s

City Chief⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 142| CD

15/8

Well beaten in a match on chase debut but has subsequently landed a 3-runner Hereford handicap and a Grade 2 Wetherby novice. Yard saddled the winner of this race last year and he's a key player with no issues regarding trip/ground.

Form: 115-211

Oscar Elite^t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: H Cobden| T: J Tizzard| OR: 139| D

4/1

Overall record over fences is underwhelming but finally off the mark in this sphere when winning the Reynoldstown at Ascot in February. Sound fifth of 23 in the Ultima behind subsequent Grand National hero Corach Rambler at Cheltenham since and serious chance here if able to back that up.

Form: P-50P15

Sail Away^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 136| D

13/2

Gained a deserved first chasing success in a 3-runner Warwick handicap (3m, good) last spring. Shaped well first run since when a clear second in another small field handicap at Chepstow (19.4f, good to soft) last month and stepping back up in trip here will be no bad thing.

Form: 262-312

Where It All Began¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Adrian Heskin| T: G Elliott| OR: 130

11/1

Tramore maiden hurdle winner last term and has acquitted himself pretty well all 3 starts switched to fences this season. No concerns stamina-wise and appears versatile with regard to ground but improvement is certainly needed on handicap debut in this sphere.

Form: 2P-F523

Forward Plan^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 125| D

9/1

Landed a Fontwell handicap hurdle in November and since won 2 of his 4 starts over fences. However, he was put in his place off this career-high mark upped to Class 2 company at Kelso last time.

Form: 212113

Temptationinmilan^p³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Philip Byrnes⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 122| D

11/2

Dual winner of big-field handicaps since returned to fences last summer, the latest at Navan (3m, good to soft) in February. Lost little caste in defeat when third at the same course next time and this consistent type can be expected to give another good account.

Form: 222U13

Donna's Double³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: B S Hughes| T: A M Thomson| OR: 119| C

16/1

Bumper/hurdles winner who left chase debut form well behind following a wind op when scoring here (20.5f, heavy) in January. Well held both subsequent starts, though, and has looked a non-stayer on previous attempts over similar trips to this.

Form: 26-3165

Hold The Note^v²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 112| D

12/1

Returned to form from out of the blue when easily accounting for 9 rivals in a Carlisle handicap (24.5f, soft) last month. However, while that performance was convincing, his overall profile is anything but and he's 4 lb 'wrong' at the weights.

Form: 15F541

Non-Runners

Ned Tanner³¹

Weight: 10-6| Age: 7

T: N W Alexander J: Sean Quinlan

Forecasts

City Chief (15/8), Oscar Elite (4/1), Temptationinmilan (11/2), Sail Away (13/2), Forward Plan (9/1), Where It All Began (11/1), Hold The Note (12/1), Ned Tanner (14/1), Donna's Double (16/1)

Low-mileage 7-y-o SAIL AWAY shaped as though all his ability remains firmly intact when runner-up back from a 10-month absence at Chepstow. Moving back up in trip here looks a good move and he could be the answer. It wasn't a particularly strong Grade 2 novice that City Chief won at Wetherby but he is greatly respected nonetheless. Oscar Elite is also feared on the back of his creditable effort in the Ultima and Irish-raider Temptationinmilan shoud have a part to play, too.