15:35 Stratford

Sunday 21 May 2023

All14:0514:3515:0515:3516:0516:3517:05

William Hill Epic Value Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 4m 4.6s

First Angel⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: M Keighley| OR: 102| BF

4/1

Fair maiden who ran right up to best when placed in 2 starts over fences last summer, latterly at Perth (2m) in July. Shaped as if needing the run (on return from 8-month absence) at Market Rasen 61 days ago and merits consideration starting out for new yard.

Form: 347/324-

Copper Fox¹⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 101

4/1

Didn't need to improve when winning mediocre Uttoxeter maiden hurdle in June but took a step forward when runner-up to a subsequent winner at Newcastle when last seen in December. Should make a chaser (runner-up sole start in points) and makes plenty of appeal in this field.

Form: 231332-

Fancy Stuff^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 98

14/1

Fair bumper winner but hasn't progressed over hurdles, finishing weakly at Warwick 3 weeks ago. However, no surprise if she fared better now switched to this sphere (won sole start in Irish points).

Form: 0/7236-6

Blue Ribbon⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: R Chapman| OR: 90

11/2

Fair 2m hurdles winner for Dr Richard Newland in 2021 but struggled to make a significant impact in handicap chases for current yard last season, beaten 19 lengths when second at Exeter latest.

Form: 64/7442-

Henri Le Bon^p¹³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 86

4/1

Only win came when awarded race at Uttoxeter in July. Well held last 2 starts over hurdles and pulled up both previous attempts in this sphere.

Form: 31244P-

George Bancroft^b³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Lily Pinchin⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 81| BF

15/2

Out of sorts over hurdles and lit up by first-time blinkers on chase bow at Fontwell last month.

Form: 360095-

Lonimoss Bareliere^t⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Charlie Hammond| T: B R Summers| OR: 77

10/1

Remains a maiden and last 2 efforts were below par. Others preferred.

Form: 244255-

Phoebus Lescribaa^t,v1²³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: H Dickin| OR: 71

16/1

Veteran who struggled over hurdles last season and easily passed over operating from out of the weights on belated return to chasing.

Form: 6/945P9-

Foillmore⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Bryony Frost| T: J D Frost| OR: 70

14/1

Maiden hurdler who ran one of his better races when 14 lengths third in 13-runner Taunton handicap hurdle 919f) 69 days ago. However, will need to step up a good bit to figure now chasing from 4 lb out of the weights (little impact in Irish points).

Form: 533PP3-

Forecasts

First Angel (4/1), Copper Fox (4/1), Henri Le Bon (4/1), Blue Ribbon (11/2), George Bancroft (15/2), Lonimoss Bareliere (10/1), Foillmore (14/1), Fancy Stuff (14/1), Phoebus Lescribaa (16/1)

COPPER FOX arrives with a decent profile over hurdles and has been found a weak race starting out in this sphere. First Angel should come on for his return and is next best starting out for a new yard, with another chasing newcomer Fancy Stuff best of the others.