Gordon Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 5m 25.83s

Trelawne²³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 136

1/1

Made it 3-4 over hurdles when seeing off 12 rivals in 23.3f Uttoxeter handicap when last seen in March. Makes the switch to the larger obstacles and ought to have further progression in him provided he keeps his quirks in check. Leading claims for an in-form yard.

Form: 13/11-

Conkwell Legend²¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 130| D

12/1

Low-mileage 9-y-o who resumed winning ways at Plumpton (20.5f) in March and ran equally as well in defeat when runner-up from 9 lb higher mark at Ffos Las (20f) a month later, noted staying on well. Having a second go over fences and is open to progress returning from 7 months off.

Form: 331/U12-

Brandy Mcqueen²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Ryan Mania| T: H Graham & G Rutherford| OR: 125

9/4

Progressive staying hurdler in 2022/23 (4 wins) who capitalised on the mistakes of others to make a winning start over fences at Kelso (23.4f, good to soft) 4 weeks ago. 6 lb rise more than fair and should have more to offer in this sphere.

Form: 11776-1

Blue Fin²⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 118

9/2

Runner-up on only start in bumpers and opened his account at the third time of asking over hurdles in 8-runner novice at Newcastle (16.9f) in February. Held every chance when carried out by his main market rival at the last at Sedgefield in April and now makes handicap/chase debut.

Form: 23313C-

Presenting Jeremy²⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 115| BF

50/1

Made winning Rules debut in a Worcester novice hurdle in spring 2021. Better for chase debut when third at Southwell final start last term but sold from Dan Skelton for only £5,500 in May. Engaged 4.08 Wetherby Saturday.

Form: F1/5353-

Non-Runners

Hermes Du Gouet²⁰³

Weight: 10-7| Age: 6

T: Miss V Williams J: Charlie Deutsch

Forecasts

Trelawne (1/1), Brandy Mcqueen (9/4), Blue Fin (9/2), Hermes Du Gouet (8/1), Conkwell Legend (12/1), Presenting Jeremy (50/1)

Cases can be made for most but preference is for TRELAWNE, who made it 3-4 over hurdles at Uttoxeter when last seen back in March and Kim Bailey's 7-y-o has the potential to become an even better chaser. Brandy McQueen was a wide-margin winner on his chase bow at Kelso recently, so he's put forward as the main danger, ahead of Conkwell Legend, who got no further than the first on his chasing debut at Warwick on New Year's Eve.