Virgin Bet Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 4m 23.09s

Doyen Du Bar^h³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Craig Nichol| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 126| CD

5/6

Winner of 2 of his 4 starts over hurdles and form of C&D reappearance success is strong (runner-up The Kalooki Kid has won twice since, including a major handicap at Musselburgh). Followed up at Aintree before finding just one too good at Sandown last time and he's the one to beat.

Form: 48-3112

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Brucio^t⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 125| D

10/3

Fairly useful mare who was successful twice over hurdles last term. Not at her best in a couple of appearances so far this season and hopes now pinned on the switch to fences helping to reignite some spark.

Form: 1B0-305

Dance Thief¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Ben Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 113| CD

9/4

Reliable type who clearly likes it here (form figures over hurdles at this course read 23132) and while he didn't take to fences at the first attempt at Musselburgh, it was an entirely different story back at this venue recently when easily taking a 6-runner handicap. Solid claims depsite 7 lb hike.

Form: 13-2261

Forecasts

Doyen Du Bar (5/6), Dance Thief (9/4), Brucio (10/3)

With a soft lead likely, DOYEN DU BAR is taken to resume winning ways having chased home a useful type in Vincenzo off this mark at Sandown last time. Dance Thief left his low-key chase debut well behind when seeing off 5 rivals with minimum fuss back here 13 days ago and he is an obvious threat. Brucio wouldn't be out of his if matching the pick of her hurdles form at the first attempt in this sphere but she's hard to get excited about on the back of a couple of below par efforts.