Jimmy Hunter 60th Birthday Celebration Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 13.38s

Spadestep^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: D R Fox| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 116| BF| D

2/1

Point winner who scored at the third time of asking over hurdles on his reappearance at Hexham (2m, soft) in October. Has proven expensive to follow since switched to fences though, including in first-time cheekpieces over C&D latest.

Form: 22-1222

The Grafter^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 114| CD

2/1

Runner-up 4 times over hurdles last season and surpassed that form when making a winning chasing bow in 4-runner handicap over C&D (heavy) last month, by 6½ lengths from Spadestep. Open to improvement and looks capable of defying an 8 lb rise in the weights.

Form: 22225-1

Sleeping Satellite^t⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 108| BF| D

11/1

At the top of his game with a tongue tie fitted, back to winning ways at Stratford (19.5f) in October and impressed with his jumping when making all at Catterick the following month. Right-handed track didn't suit quite as well last time but he still shaped as though in good order.

Form: 681213

Always A Reason^p²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| OR: 107| C

11/2

Winning Irish pointer who went the right way as a hurdler and made it 2 from 2 over fences in 5-runner handicap at Catterick (19.2f, soft) last month, just holding on. Open to further improvement and much respected bidding for the hat-trick.

Form: 5-51211

Stick With Me Sam^h,t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: T R Gretton| OR: 106| D

8/1

Hasn't looked back since his return, completing a hat-trick in decisive fashion at Catterick (15.7f, soft) recently. This is more competitive but can't be taken lightly in his current mood.

Form: 2U-7111

Galidam^t⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Callum Bewley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 98

10/1

Fair hurdler in France. Modest form at best for current yard, though some promise switched to fences last 2 starts, not helped by a bad error at Catterick latest.

Form: 15P-633

Non-Runners

Ballyedward¹¹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: S R B Crawford J: Sean Quinlan

Forecasts

The Grafter (2/1), Spadestep (2/1), Always A Reason (11/2), Stick With Me Sam (8/1), Galidam (10/1), Sleeping Satellite (11/1), Ballyedward (12/1)

THE GRAFTER has always promised to make a better chaser and having justified support in comfortable fashion on his recent C&D debut, he looks capable of defying an 8 lb rise in the weights. Always A Reason and Stick With Me Sam also arrive on the up and they head the opposition in an interesting affair that is likely to prove strong form for the grade.