Virgin Bet Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 5m 20.34s

The Churchill Lad^h³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| OR: 119| BF

13/2

Hit the target 3 times over hurdles and perfect start in this sphere when seeing off 4 rivals at Hexham in October. Runner-up both subsequent starts (late mistakes proved costly back at Hexham last time) but couldn't be sure that this step back up in trip is what he needs.

Form: 733122

One More Stroke^t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 114

7/4

Winner of 2 of his 3 starts at up to 19.3f over hurdles last term and offered something to work on sent chasing in first-time tongue strap when third in a 4-runner novices' handicap at Hexham (15.6f, good to soft). Open to improvement now moving back up in trip with that run under his belt.

Form: 2/2113-3

Monochromix^p⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: P W Wadge| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 113

10/1

Remains a maiden (0-12 overall) but hasn't done much wrong in 4 starts since switched to fences, twice finding just one too good in handicaps over this trip last season. Creditable fifth in first-time cheekpieces (retained) on return at Hexham (2½m, soft) and should make his presence felt.

Form: 5P242-5

Leading Force^p,t¹³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 110WS

13/2

Made it third time lucky in this sphere when scoring off 3 lb lower at Sedgefield (21f, good) in May. Decent second at Market Rasen next time but has failed to shine both starts since and needs to bounce back following a break (has undergone a wind op in the interim).

Form: 26-1297

Stringtoyourbow²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Christian Williams| OR: 107

9/2

Fair winning hurdler who got the job done at the seventh attempt over fences, making all in a 24.3f Southwell handicap last month. 6 lb rise fair enough and he could prove hard to peg back down in trip round here.

Form: 3-P6531

Cardamon Hill^p¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 105| C

4/1

Resumed winning ways in 4-runner handicap chase at Wetherby (24.2f, good) last month and went in again over 23.6f here 12 days later. Up a total of just 4 lb following those victories and he is respected now going in search of the hat-trick.

Form: 763411

Forecasts

One More Stroke (7/4), Cardamon Hill (4/1), Stringtoyourbow (9/2), Leading Force (13/2), The Churchill Lad (13/2), Monochromix (10/1)

STRINGTOYOURBOW delivered a most assured of jumping when opening his chase account at Southwell and it's unlikely that a 6 lb rise will be enough to prevent him from following up. Having shaped with encouragement on his chase debut last month, One More Stroke is taken to build on that and emerge as the main danger ahead of the hat-trick seeking Cardamon Hill and Monochromix.