bet365 Novices' Chase (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 3 | 3m 45y | 4 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| D

Point winner who ran out the decisive winner of a Down Royal maiden hunter (23.2f, good to soft) on Rules debut in May for Caroline McCaldin. Likely to make his mark in the novice division this season, but faces a tall order here in attempting to concede weight to Grey Dawning and Apple Away.

Form: 24212-1

Grey Dawning²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 141| C

Unbeaten in bumpers and winner of 3 of his 4 completed starts over hurdles last term, including a Grade 2 at Warwick. Departed 5 out in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle (won by Apple Away) at Aintree when last seen in April. Greatly respected on chase debut for yard with a good record in this race.

Form: 1/2111F-

Warrior's Fate⁵²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: C J Todd| T: C & A Pogson

Placed on just one of his 3 starts between the flags and it's hard to envisage him making a winning Rules debut in a race small on quantity but big on quality.

Form: 6/53-

Apple Away²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: P W Wadge⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 141| D

Signed off last season's progressive hurdles campaign with a gutsy front-running display in a Grade 1 novice at the Aintree Grand National meeting (24.7f, good to soft). This former Irish point winner could take high rank among the staying novice chasers this season.

Form: 632111-

Forecasts

Apple Away (8/11), Grey Dawning (6/4), Ballydesmond (10/1), Warrior's Fate (66/1)

APPLE AWAY and Grey Dawning developed into very useful novice hurdlers last season and are exciting recruits to this sphere. Choosing between them isn't easy, but preference is for Lucinda Russell's charge, who displayed a terrific attitude when landing an Aintree Grade 1 on her final start of last season and she appeals as the type to make up into an even better chaser. Ballydesmond did the job well on his Rules debut but conceding weight to the aforementioned duo is a big ask.