Off The Fence On youtube.com/attheraces Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 7m 1.76s

Lyrical Genius^b²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Lily Pinchin| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 112| C

10/3

Has an unattractive style (takes plenty of riding) but arrives on the back of 2 good runner-up efforts, coping well with the step up to marathon trip when second of 7 in handicap chase (6/1) at Exeter (30.7f, heavy) 28 days ago. Others make greater appeal on balance, though.

Form: 24P3-22

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Iberio^p³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 112

10/3

Matched winning hurdles form when fourth at Exeter on chase debut. Compromised his chance with a bad blunder and probably wasn't to blame for his exit last time, so isn't fully discounted.

Form: 214-47R

Fenland Tiger²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 107| BF| D

2/1

Recorded hat-trick at Newcastle over hurdles in autumn 2022 and showed a fine attitude to make a winning start as a chaser at Carlisle in October. Shaped just as well when third there last time and he remains unexposed.

Form: 1114-13

Marco Island²⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 107

4/1

Reached a fairly useful level in a handful of starts over hurdles but didn't take to chasing last season and he'll need to return a different proposition after 8 months off.

Form: 121/6PP-

Betterforeveryone^v1³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 105

7/1

Got off the mark at Bangor (23f) over hurdles on return last year but couldn't really build on that and never threatened when last of 3 finishers on chase debut at Warwick in November. First fence faller here last time and others are preferred.

Form: 15F6-3F

Non-Runners

Trincomalee⁶²⁹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 11

T: L Wadham J: Non Runner

Val Dancer²⁸

Weight: 11-9| Age: 7

T: Mrs M Rowley J: Alex Edwards

Tom Cody¹⁵

Weight: 11-4| Age: 8

T: R Menzies J: Ross Chapman

Forecasts

Fenland Tiger (2/1), Val Dancer (11/4), Iberio (10/3), Lyrical Genius (10/3), Tom Cody (7/2), Marco Island (4/1), Betterforeveryone (7/1), Trincomalee (8/1)

FENLAND TIGER has a prolific record in handicaps and Sam England's gelding again shaped encouragingly in a race which turned into a sprint at Carlisle last time, so he's fancied to enhance his positive strike rate. Leicester winner Val Dancer and the hat-trick seeking Tom Cody are also leading players in an interesting contest.