16:00 Market Rasen

Monday 2 June 2025

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Bet Smarter With Oddschecker+ Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 4m 14.9s

Foreverwalking⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: K Frost| OR: 98

11/1

Point winner who was runner-up in 2½m Thurles maiden hurdle for Willie Mullins in November. Subsequently changed hands for £4,000 and hasn't matched that form in 4 starts for present yard, but it's not beyond the realms of possibility that he'll do better now switched to fences.

Form: P/28473-

Gwennie May Jem²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 97

9/4

Winless following 5 attempts over hurdles but quickly established himself as a better chaser, taking steps forward with stylish victories at Warwick and Newton Abbot the last twice (both at around 2m on good ground). 10 lb rise for latest success may not be enough to stop him.

Form: 42421-1

Old But Gold⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: M Todhunter| OR: 91

18/1

Went close sole start between the flags last February and there were signs that he was starting to get the hang of things when fifth of 10 in a maiden hurdle at Newcastle earlier this year. However, he was well held on handicap debut last time and big step forward needed now tackling fences.

Form: 2/0050-

My Virtue²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Murray Dodd⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 82| BF

13/2

Showed improved form to get off the mark in a 10-runner handicap hurdle at Southwell (15.8f, good) last May. Good second on return at Hereford this spring and made a reasonably encouraging chasing debut when again finding just one too good at Stratford (17f, good). Should make her presence felt.

Form: 030/12-2

The Dipper⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽⁵⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 80

18/1

Failed to build on low-key maiden/novice hurdle form on handicap debut in that sphere at Newcastle in March. Hopes pinned on the switched to the larger obstacles sparking a jolt of improvement here.

Form: 8/76076-

Conquer The Breeze^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 78| BF

6/1

Has found a little improvement since returning from a break in March, third over this C&D and then finished runner-up at Sedgefield. However, reverted to his clumsy ways back at the latter course last time and it's highly likely that he will again find one or two too good.

Form: PPP32-3

Prospect House^v¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: P D Niven| OR: 74| CD

13/8

Well backed in a change of headgear and responded well to a more positive ride when making all over C&D in April. Didn't do much wrong when third over 2½m at Huntingdon next time, albeit didn't help his rider by hanging right at the business end of the race. Each-way chance.

Form: 53501-3

Straitouttacompton²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: James Best| T: M C Chapman| OR: 64

150/1

Poor on Flat nowadays and has offered little in 6 starts over hurdles. 8 lb 'wrong' at the weights for this chase debut and he's readily passed over.

Form: 006/73-P

Forecasts

Prospect House (13/8), Gwennie May Jem (9/4), Conquer The Breeze (6/1), My Virtue (13/2), Foreverwalking (11/1), Old But Gold (18/1), The Dipper (18/1), Straitouttacompton (150/1)

The most likely scenario is that GWENNIE MAY JEM will find the necessary improvement to overcome a 10 lb rise for last month's Newton Abbot success and complete the hat-trick. The 5-y-o has really clicked over fences the last twice and, given his age and low mileage, further progress is a distinct possibility. My Virtue's chase debut was encouraging and she is preferred as the main danger ahead of Prospect House and Conquer The Breeze.