14:04 Kelso

Saturday 28 October 2023

All12:5413:2914:0414:3915:1415:5416:2917:04

Clifford, Martin & Sarah Firth Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 6m 24.33s

Horacio Apple's^t²²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 110| D

7/4

Fair form in bumpers and winner of first 2 starts in handicap company over hurdles last season. Came up short when bidding for the hat-trick off this mark at Haydock when last seen in March, but makes his chase debut in a winnable race and he's one to consider.

Form: 5/33114-

No Tackle²⁰⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul O'Brien| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 108

8/1

Showed much improved form to get off the mark at the second attempt over hurdles in a heavy-ground Lingfield maiden (19.5f) last December. However, struggled in handicaps thereafter and opposable starting out over fences here.

Form: 7418P5-

Domandlouis^p1¹⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 103| BF| C

9/4

Hurdles winner here in May 2022 and runner-up twice over fences last season, including off a 1 lb higher mark over C&D in April. Disappointing back here the following month and absent since, but will be a threat if responding well to the first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 3P422-4

Busty Boy²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: D Bourke| OR: 100

4/1

Successful on 3 of his 4 starts in Irish points and achieved more than previously under Rules when second in 5-runner Carlisle novice (19.3f, soft) on debut for new yard in March. Not disgraced over the same C&D last time and worth a second look now upped in trip for this chase debut.

Form: 121125-

So Be It^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 95

28/1

Runner-up twice around 3m at Perth this summer, but he has performed poorly on his last 2 starts and record stands at 0-15 under Rules.

Form: P224PP

Pats Dream¹⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 89

13/2

Failed to pull up any trees in 4 starts over hurdles last season and needs to take a big step forward now switched to fences.

Form: 43/4699-

Non-Runners

No Regrets²⁵

Weight: 12-0| Age: 9

T: N G Richards J: Sean Quinlan

Warriors Story¹⁷¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: N W Alexander J: Bruce Lynn

Forecasts

Horacio Apple's (7/4), Domandlouis (9/4), No Regrets (5/2), Busty Boy (4/1), Warriors Story (6/1), Pats Dream (13/2), No Tackle (8/1), So Be It (28/1)

If his jumping passes the test now tackling fences, HORACIO APPLE'S could be the answer to this rather tricky-looking contest. He never looked like completing the hat-trick on his final start of last season, but he appeared to be going the right way prior to that. No Regrets and Domandlouis have already exhibited a fair level of ability in this sphere, with the former feared most. Busty Boy was 3-4 between the flags and may well step up on his hurdles form now sent chasing.