Countdown To Cheltenham At Rhino.Bet Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 40.1s

Breakdance Kid¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 100| CD

3/1

Showed promise over hurdles and readily got off the mark in this sphere in 6-runner handicap over C&D last time. Up 5 lb but has more to offer and rates a big player.

Form: 34-P541

Has Troke^p⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Bryan Carver| T: A M Hales| OR: 100

13/2

Fair winner at 19f over hurdles who posted a respectable fifth of 9 in handicap chase at Leicester (20.1f, heavy) 41 days ago. Ought to be in the shake-up.

Form: 276-625

The Scorpion King^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: G Sheehan| T: O Signy| OR: 95

16/5

Unreliable maiden over hurdles but not discredited when fourth of 9 in handicap chase at Fontwell (21.6f, soft) on debut over fences 23 days ago. Needs to build on it.

Form: 30-4P64

Ballylinch^p1⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 89| D

8/1

Winning pointer who improved on his hurdles form when making a winning start over fences at Sedgefield in October. Not discredited both runs since, fifth at Carlisle in December. Must enter calculations off a handy-looking mark.

Form: 483125

Our Friend Mo^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: K Brogan| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 88

9/1

Best effort when runner-up in handicap chase at Bangor (2½m, heavy) on debut over fences in December but not in the same form when sixth at Leicester next time. Fell heavily at the first at Carlisle latest so needs to bounce back.

Form: 74U26F

Samourai One^p³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: L Wadham| OR: 88

4/1

Placed on 2 of his 3 starts in bumpers and best run over hurdles when fourth of 12 in handicap at Southwell (24.3f, soft) 34 days ago. Much respected switched to chasing.

Form: 6/7-7554

Nine Nine Nine²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: S-J Davies| OR: 87

17/2

Gained his breakthrough win in 8-runner handicap at Leicester 20 days ago. Up 4 lb but can't be ruled out.

Form: F24RU1

Forecasts

Breakdance Kid (3/1), The Scorpion King (16/5), Samourai One (4/1), Has Troke (13/2), Ballylinch (8/1), Nine Nine Nine (17/2), Our Friend Mo (9/1)

BREAKDANCE KID opened his account in style over C&D and a 5 lb rise doesn't look sufficient to prevent Stuart Coltherd's 6-y-o from following up. Ballylinch is weighted to have a big say and appeals as the chief threat, with Has Troke rating the pick of the remainder for minor honours.