Pertemps Network Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 5m 13.80s

Royal Jewel²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 119| C

10/11

Surpassed anything that he's previously achieved when opening chase account here (2m, heavy) last month, seeing things out better than on his 4 previous starts in this sphere. Good reason to think that he can cope with both this 5 lb higher mark and the step back up in trip. Strong claims.

Form: 2-25331

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Heros De Romay^v¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 117| CD

5/1

Fairly useful hurdles winner who made an encouraging start in this sphere when fourth of 7 at Haydock on his seasonal reappearance in December. However, he has failed to build on that since, most recently coming home a well-held fourth in a first-time visor (retained) over C&D recently.

Form: 133-464

Red Nika^t,v1⁸⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Cameron Iles⁽⁷⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 114

9/2

Successful twice from 3 starts between the flags and, though yet to get his head in front under Rules, he finished second on 4 occasions over hurdles and went agonisingly close in a handicap chase here (23.6f, good to soft) in November. Poor at Doncaster since, though, and now tried in a visor.

Form: 124-524

Barrabooka¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 108

12/1

Winner of sole point and confirmed hurdles/Rules debut promise when taking a 2m Wetherby novice in December. Given a considerate introduction to this sphere when fourth behind a better-fancied stablemate at Carlisle and this lightly-raced 7-y-o can be expected to leave that form behind in time.

Form: 1/31P4

Passing Kate²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: R Patrick| T: M Sheppard| OR: 101

6/1

Three-time hurdle winner who added to her good record on testing ground when making a successful chase debut over 17.5f at Exeter last month. However, her jumping went to pot at Wincanton next time (eventually pulled up) and the fences here are not exactly forgiving.

Form: 23-181P

Non-Runners

King Arise²⁸

Weight: 11-13| Age: 8

T: Dr R Newland J: Luke Scott

Forecasts

Royal Jewel (10/11), King Arise (9/4), Red Nika (9/2), Heros De Romay (5/1), Passing Kate (6/1), Barrabooka (12/1)

ROYAL JEWEL pulled it out of the fire when getting off the mark over fences here last month, battling well to regain the upper hand close home after a mistake at the second-last looked as though it may prove costly. He pulled well clear of the rest with the runner-up that day and this 5 lb higher mark should be within reach. King Arise has done nothing at all wrong since switched to fences and he won't go down without a fight, while likely improver Barrabooka is best of the rest.