Hawk Ponteland Novices' Handicap Chase

4YO plus | Class 5 | 2m 7f 91y | 5 Runners | Turf

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Selected odds by:

Home Sweet Highway^b²²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 96| D

Confirmed previous promise over hurdles when off the mark at Bangor (23f) in June. Not a convincing chaser as yet, below form on his last couple of starts, but he is on a feasible mark.

Form: 621433

Hey Brother⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 93

First run since leaving Jedd O'Keeffe when 100/1, pulled up in handicap chase at Hexham (24.2f, good) 42 days ago, not fluent again 5 out. Plenty to prove on the back of that.

Form: 369-52P

Great Ballinboris^t1¹⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 82

Failed to make an impact over hurdles and not much better over fences. Handicapper has given him a chance and he's tongue tied/up in trip after 6 months off.

Form: 067/34-P

Kingofthegame²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Quinlan| T: M Todhunter| OR: 81

Ex-pointer who, following a quick switch to chasing, has shown encouragement the last twice, notably when a strong-finishing third at Kelso 20 days ago. Likely to open his account upped in trip.

Form: 3/846-43

Halfway House Lad^t¹⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 72WS

Still looking for first success and wasn't on his game when sixth at Bangor 6 months ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 243P-26

Forecasts

Kingofthegame (1/1), Home Sweet Highway (5/2), Halfway House Lad (6/1), Great Ballinboris (8/1), Hey Brother (14/1)

KINGOFTHEGAME looked ahead of this mark when finishing well into third at Kelso last time and most of his rivals have something to prove, so he's the obvious choice to take this. Home Sweet Highway is probably the main danger from a handicapping perspective but needs to step up on his last couple of efforts.