Sebden Steel Celebrating 30 Years In Business Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:23 | Winning time: 3m 47.08s

Le Beau Madrik¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: C J Todd| T: D Skelton| OR: 134| BF

13/2

Runner-up sole outing in bumpers and promising novice hurdler last season, winning 3 of his 4 starts. Came up short on his handicap bow in the Welsh Champion Hurdle and was undone by a less-than-fluent round of jumping when beaten ½-length by Florida Dreams on recent chasing debut. Should do better.

Form: 11P1-92

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Florida Dreams¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: A M Thomson| OR: 122| C

7/4

A dual bumper/hurdles winner for Nicky Richards who accounted for reopposing Le Beau Madrik under a skilful ride in match race here (19f) just over a fortnight earlier. Meets that rival on much more favourable terms back in a handicap, so good chance of confirming the form.

Form: 3366-81

Smart Decision²²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 117

11/4

Won 5 of his first 6 completed starts over hurdles. Improved again when narrowly denied in a Haydock handicap (good to soft) in January but his form tailed off thereafter. Switches to the larger obstacles after 7 months off and should make a chaser.

Form: 124755-

Spadestep^t²³⁷

2/1

Point/hurdles winner who was runner-up on his first 4 starts over fences last season, sure to have pushed the winner closer but for a jolting error at Newcastle (2m) in February. Laboured effort at Carlisle on final outing but returns with his yard amongst the winners. Has had a breathing operation.

Form: 122225-

Forecasts

Florida Dreams (7/4), Spadestep (2/1), Smart Decision (11/4), Le Beau Madrik (13/2)

SPADESTEP produced a laboured effort at Carlisle when last seen, but he was a winner first time back (over hurdles) last season and this could be the time to catch him, especially with his yard in red-hot form. Le Beau Madrik came off second best in a match race with Florida Dreams just over a fortnight ago and is now much worse off at the weights, but that experience shouldn't have been lost on him and it's reasonable to believe he can reverse the form.