Betfair Esher Novices' Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:34 | Winning time: 6m 25.75s

Cadell³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 135| D

11/1

Unbeaten in points. Fairly useful form over hurdles last season and he took a sizeable step forward from his chase debut effort when making all in a 3-runner Wetherby novice (24.2f) 5 weeks ago, quickening clear from 4 out. Hiked up in grade but holds leading claims with better to come.

Form: 272P-31

Handstands²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 139| BF| D

5/2

Won on sole outing in points before landing his first 3 starts over hurdles last term. Limitations exposed at the Cheltenham Festival and, having been strong in the betting on return/chase debut, departed 3 out at Wincanton (20.2f, good) last month. Remains a potentially smart novice chaser.

Form: 11116-F

Resplendent Grey²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 143

11/8

Ended last season on the up over hurdles and perfect start to chase career when accounting for 5 rivals in a 2½m Uttoxeter handicap on return. Ran a cracker upped in trip/grade when runner-up in a listed chase at Cheltenham (24.5f, good to soft) last month and should have even more to offer.

Form: 342-112

Saint Davy²⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 135| C| D

4/1

Bumper/novice hurdle winner who took his form to land back-to-back handicaps upon returning at Ludlow/this course earlier this year. Probably best not judged too harshly on his subsequent Uttoxeter sixth in March and is one to be positive about now embarking on a chase career.

Form: 119/116-

Welcom To Cartries^t1²³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130| DWS

8/1

Easy winner of sole start in Irish points and confirmed hurdling debut promise when scoring at Ascot. Unable to justify favouritism when runner-up in Grade 2 River Don and proved a let down sent handicapping at Ayr, but remains very much the type to make a better chaser. Had a wind op/tongue tied.

Form: 1/2128-

Non-Runners

Riskintheground¹⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

Resplendent Grey (11/8), Handstands (5/2), Saint Davy (4/1), Welcom To Cartries (8/1), Cadell (11/1), Riskintheground (20/1)

RESPLENDENT GREY may well have arrived unbeaten over fences had he jumped the last couple of fences better at Cheltenham 3 weeks ago and, with further progress on the cards, Olly Murphy's 6-y-o gets the nod to come out on top at the expense of Handstands, who was sent off a warm order on his chasing debut at Wincanton last month but departed just as the race was heating up. Cadell and chasing-debutant Welcom To Cartries can fight out third.