Howden Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 13.79s

Stencil^h1³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Cobden| T: N George & A Zetterholm| OR: 135| D

9/4

Useful winning French hurdler but failed to justify market support when well held in the Fred Winter. Not disgraced in face of a stiff task when fifth of 6 in Grade 2 there on chase bow last month and is sure to build on that considerate start. Hood on switched to a handicap.

Form: 11620-5

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Excelero^h³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: C Gethings| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 128| D

6/5

Three-time hurdles winner who found improvement, on second start in this discipline, when taking 3-runner handicap chase at Warwick (16.2f, soft) a month ago, jumping soundly from the front. 7 lb rise perfectly fair with prospect of further progress.

Form: 9116-41

Vanderpoel²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 126

5/1

Off mark in Irish points at second attempt and had little trouble landing first 2 starts in maiden/novice hurdles. Possible he overdid things when pulled up in Grade 2 in March and solid if unspectacular start to chase career during the autumn, second of 6 on handicap bow at Lingfield latest.

Form: 111P-32

Southoftheborder²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss H C Knight| OR: 119

5/1

Point/bumper/hurdles winner who had been handicapped out of things over fences initially but down in the weights and much more like it with a brace of runner-up efforts last month, latterly at Doncaster (19f), Way he shaped that day suggests 2m will suit.

Form: 2/4-4522

Non-Runners

Bluey¹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: Rex Dingle

Forecasts

Excelero (6/5), Stencil (9/4), Bluey (3/1), Vanderpoel (5/1), Southoftheborder (5/1)

On the back of an encouraging chase debut at Cheltenham, STENCIL is expected to take a step forward and in receipt of a handy 4-y-o allowance, he could be the way to go. Excelero and Bluey look the main dangers.