William Hill Top Price Guarantee Novices' Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 4m 8.81s

Jazzy Matty²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Gilligan| T: C Collins| OR: 133| CD

17/2

Fred Winter winner in 2023 and has matched those exploits over fences this season, opening his account at Wexford in August and wasting no time putting a physical mishap behind him to double his tally at Sligo (21.1f, good) recently. Back down in trip and will need to take a step forward.

Form: 0F13P1

San Salvador²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: R Deegan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 136

10/3

Getting his act together over fences now, opening his account at Listowel last month before adding to his tally in Grade 3 at Roscommon (16.7f, soft) 8 days later, showing a superior turn of foot to take care of the outsider. Neither of those wins look bombproof, however.

Form: 4-F7411

Noble Anthem²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: R T Dunne| T: A Keatley| OR: 115| D

14/1

Fairly useful Flat winner who is lightly raced over jumps and clearly learnt plenty from his initial experience over fences when winning 5-runner handicap at Sedgefield (17f, good to soft) earlier this month, quickening clear before last. Better to come but up against some big Irish yards here.

Form: 34/2-241

Path D'oroux^p,t¹⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 144| D

8/15

Yet to score over fences but acquitted himself well in valuable handicaps over this sort of trip back in the spring, making the frame at Leopardstown, here and Aintree. Returns from 6 months off and every chance he can break his duck in this sphere. Yard won this last year, too.

Form: F22335-

Non-Runners

Shecouldbeanything¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: G Elliott J: S Bowen

Forecasts

Path D'oroux (8/15), Shecouldbeanything (9/4), San Salvador (10/3), Jazzy Matty (17/2), Noble Anthem (14/1)

A disappointing turnout from British-trained runners but PATH D'OROUX held his form well back in the spring so, provided he's ready to roll, this looks a good opening for Gavin Cromwell's 7-y-o to open his account over the larger obstacles. The main danger may emerge from San Salvador, who is progressive and arrives chasing a quick-fire hat-trick, while Shecouldbeanything, who is declared to run at Clonmel on Thursday, would be a leading player if lining up, too.