Balnakeilly Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

5YO plus | Class 3 | 2m 4f 20y | 8 Runners | Turf

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: M Bowen| OR: 124| BF| CD

Took well to chasing in the first half of the season, including 2 C&D wins. Been off for 6 months but hasn't finished out of the first 2 in his 5 visits to Perth.

Form: P41214

Barlovento³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 124| D

Second on chase debut before going one better in a 20.5f Kempton handicap (good) on Boxing Day. Hasn't reproduced that in 2 subsequent outings (beaten 17¼ lengths into third back at Kempton last time) but likely to have a big say if back on form.

Form: 22-2183

It's Hard To Know¹³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 122| D

Irish point scorer who landed a pair of novice hurdles wins around 2½m last winter. Failed to cut much ice in good company over hurdles on final 2 starts last term but took a step back in right direction when fourth on Aintree chase debut/reappearance in December. Off since. Open to improvement.

Form: 1/1160-4

Karafon^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 121| BF

Winning hurdler for Willie Mullins. Shaped well on second start over fences when runner-up at Ayr in January but hasn't come close to matching it in his 3 outings since.

Form: 792656

Find A Fortune^t1,p1²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: G Elliott| OR: 121| D

Fairly useful hurdle winner who matched that form at the first attempt over fences when fourth in 21.5f Leopardstown maiden last month. Not in the same when fifth in another maiden at Down Royal since but still respected now handicapping for the first time over fences in a new headgear combination.

Form: 310-645

Walking On A Dream⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Power⁽⁵⁾| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 117| D

Looked stretched by just short of 3m at Newcastle in January and quickly back on track over fences with a success over an extended 2½m at Ayr (soft) last month, although it was a race which took little winning with his 2 rivals making jumping errors. Faced with a more competitive scenario now.

Form: 1P-3281

Great Pepper³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlotte Jones| T: James Moffatt| OR: 116| D

Dual hurdle winner. Best effort over fences when second in 2m Ayr handicap (heavy) in January but not in anything like the same form when pulled up since.

Form: 3-PU62P

Wolfburg^t,p²^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: P W Wadge| T: A M Thomson| OR: 110| D

Good record over fences in this headgear combination, adding to last month's Go North series final win at Carlisle (2½m) when shading a tight finish at Kelso (23.5f, good) on Monday. Will have to shoulder a 7 lb penalty if turned out again quickly.

Form: 713211

Forecasts

Wolfburg (13/8), Barlovento (5/1), Find A Fortune (6/1), King Roly (7/1), Walking On A Dream (7/1), It's Hard To Know (10/1), Great Pepper (12/1), Karafon (14/1)

Although BARLOVENTO has failed to fire in 2 outings since his Kempton win over Christmas he might be worth one more chance as that form has been franked by others on several occasions since. King Roly has been off for 6 months but has an excellent Perth record, including 2 wins over C&D earlier in the season, and is second choice ahead of Ben Pauling's It's Hard To Know.