Betty Chantler 97th Birthday Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:13 | Winning time: 4m 59.43s

Dubrovnik Harry^t³¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 125

7/2

Low-mileage 8-y-o who ran well on 2 of his 3 starts in handicap hurdles last season. Third in his previous chase a couple of years ago. Has gone well fresh before.

Form: 3P6/403-

Hugos New Horse^p¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 123| D

7/1

Five-time hurdle winner in a very productive 2022/23 campaign but has lost his way since, faring no better for wind surgery on Newbury reappearance. Remains to be seen if a switch to fences sparks him back to life.

Form: 1/0P0P-7

Alien Storm¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: David Bass| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 120| C

11/4

Made a winning chase debut over 17f here in September and backed it up with a solid third of 6 in handicap chase at Kempton (2¼m) 4 weeks later. Latest Doncaster third was no more than respectable, though.

Form: 03-6133

D'jo Dela Barriere³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Conor Ring| T: Evan Williams| OR: 115

14/1

Struck at the second time of asking for Evan Williams in 2m Hereford novice hurdle last month. Showed promise in a chase in Ireland last spring and respected now moving into handicap company.

Form: 2F5-491

Diplomatic Ash³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 108

6/4

Fair maiden hurdler. Hampered and unseated early on chase debut/reappearance so effectively having his first start of the season when fourth of 8 in a 2½m Lingfield handicap chase 5 weeks ago. Entitled to come on for the outing and should go well.

Form: 320P-U4

Non-Runners

Sea Invasion²

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: A J Honeyball J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Diplomatic Ash (6/4), Alien Storm (11/4), Dubrovnik Harry (7/2), Hugos New Horse (7/1), Sea Invasion (7/1), D'jo Dela Barriere (14/1)

DIPLOMATIC ASH is entitled to build on what was effectively his chase debut and reappearance at Lingfield and is preferred to the returning Dubrovnik Harry.