Stan Mellor Memorial 'Chasing Excellence' Beginners' Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:02 | Winning time: 5m 8.04s

Go West¹⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| D

8/13

Close second sole start in maiden points and winner of one of his 4 starts in bumpers. Completed the hat-trick over hurdles when making all in a 3-runner Kempton novice (21f, good) in April and, though disappointing in a Perth listed event later that month, he's of strong interest now sent chasing.

Form: 0/5111P-

Josh The Boss^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr Jamie Neild⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| BF| C| D

11/10

Form tailed off after winning a major Chepstow handicap hurdle last autumn and he failed to deliver when well-backed to stage a repeat in the same race last month (first run following a wind op). Conversely, he's undeniably talented and will be a danger to all if the switch to fences perks him up.

Form: 8/19P8-8

Non-Runners

Deep Purple²³

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Jipcot²¹³

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: J & A O'Neill J: Kielan Woods

Silver Thorn²⁴¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: Ben Jones

Forecasts

Go West (8/13), Josh The Boss (11/10), Jipcot (11/4), Deep Purple (9/2), Silver Thorn (7/1)

GO WEST didn't cover himself in glory in a listed Perth novice hurdle on his final run of last season, but he looked promising prior to that and it's likely that he will quickly surpass what he achieved over hurdles now switched to the larger obstacles. Though Deep Purple seemingly has plenty on his plate on these terms, he arrives here on the back of a solid effort at Chepstow and is preferred to chasing debutants Josh The Boss and Silver Thorn as the main danger.