William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:32 | Winning time: 6m 21.01s

Champagne Twist²⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 129

9/2

Irish point winner looked promising as a novice, landing a competitive EBF Final handicap at Sandown (19.8f). Unseated the rider on reappearance last season and disappointed on two subsequent starts (including when notably well-backed at Ascot). Worth another chance on chase debut.

Form: 119/U09-

Theatre Man²³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 129

7/1

Showed useful form as novice chaser (sent off favourite for the Plate at the Festival) but disappointed last season, for all he looked rusty on first start following wind surgery at Newbury (19.9f) in March. This trip is much more his bag and he could be well-treated if back to his best on return.

Form: 2F0/446-

El Granjero^p²⁰⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R Patrick| T: C Boultbee-Brooks| OR: 125| BF

10/1

Won sole start in Irish points and has proved a likeably reliable performer. including when runner-up on chase debut at Stratford in March. Fairly useful fourth back over hurdles last time and looks solid stepping up in trip on second start over fences.

Form: 652224-

Hidden History¹⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 125| BF

6/4

Point winner justified support to make a successful debut for the Skeltons in a strong Uttoxeter handicap hurdle in March and improved again when only collared late at Perth the following month, having travelled strongly through the race. Very interesting chase debutant.

Form: 31/7212-

Strackan²³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly| OR: 123

9/1

Improved over hurdles last season, well placed to land a hat-trick at Cheltenham on New Year's Day but was found to have bled when pulled-up on final start of last season. Could have more to offer as a chaser, assuming all is well on his return.

Form: 21115P-

Andy Amo²⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 122

7/2

Progressive over hurdles last season, almost landing a hat-trick in a competitive listed novice handicap at Punchestown in April. Likely to make an even better chaser if he can brush up on his jumping.

Form: 4/24112-

Non-Runners

King Of Answers²⁸

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: L Russell & M Scudamore J: P W Wadge

Forecasts

Hidden History (6/4), Andy Amo (7/2), Champagne Twist (9/2), King Of Answers (6/1), Theatre Man (7/1), Strackan (9/1), El Granjero (10/1)

A case can be made for each of these, but this may go the way of a chase debutant. HIDDEN HISTORY was progressive over hurdles last season and narrowly gets the vote ahead of fellow point winner Champagne Twist, who would be dangerous if back to the form he showed as a novice hurdler. El Granjero looks the most solid of those with form over fences.