Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices' Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 3m 50.77s

Ballyburn³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

7/4

Developed into last season's leading novice hurdler, recording hat-trick of Grade 1s at Leopardstown, Cheltenham and Punchestown. Jumped accurately when producing a near-flawless chase debut at the last-named course last month and he's a most-exciting chasing prospect.

Form: 21111-1

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Brookie^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 130| CD

100/1

Useful sort over hurdles and found improvement when winning 4-runner handicap chase at Sandown (15.4f, good, 11/2) on his debut over fences in November. Not in same form at Newbury since and he's surely out of his depth against such exciting opposition.

Form: 014P-17

Rubaud⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 149| CD

12/1

Made up into a smart hurdler last term and even better in 2 starts since returning to action in October, latterly landing the Elite Hurdle for the second year running at Wincanton (15.2f, good). A notch below Ballyburn and Sir Gino in that sphere, so may have his work cut out on chase bow.

Form: 2456-11

Sir Gino²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 157| CD

8/13

Strong-travelling 4-y-o maintained his unbeaten record over hurdles with a facile success in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle (16.2f, good) last month. A chaser on looks and the sky could well be the limit for him now switched to fences.

Form: 1/111-1

Forecasts

Sir Gino (8/13), Ballyburn (7/4), Rubaud (12/1), Brookie (100/1)

A mouthwatering clash between perhaps the most exciting horses on either side of the Irish Sea, with narrow preference on this occasion given to BALLYBURN, who produced a near-faultless display sent chasing at Punchestown last month, though Sir Gino is almost certainly the most formidable rival he'll have faced in any sphere to date and Nicky Henderson's Fighting Fifth winner should prove top-class now making the switch to chasing. Rubaud, a horse of some talent himself, can finish third.