Business Colleagues & Friends Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 4m 4.5s

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Selected odds by:

Teddy Blue^b,t⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 131| D

10/3

Talented but his temperament started to look an issue for the Moore stable. Has taken better to fences than may have been expected, making it second time lucky when allowed to dominate at Huntingdon before following up in very different fashion at Kempton (18f) last week. Opposable on balance.

Form: 7-70511

Javert Allen²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 129| BF| CD

13/8

Lightly-raced 6-y-o who didn't do much wrong in handful of runs over hurdles and perfect start in this sphere when making all at Chepstow/over C&D over the winter. Unlucky not to remain unbeaten over fences back at Chepstow 4 weeks ago (ridden too aggressively) and can resume winning ways.

Form: 2/22-112

Beau Balko²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 128| D

10/3

Reliable sort doubled his tally over fences at Wincanton in November. Runner-up next 3 starts and ran respectably in a more competitive race when fourth of 14 at this course (19.8f, good to soft) 3 weeks ago. Place claims.

Form: 312224

Major Fortune¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 122

12/1

Big improver stepped up to 2½m+ last season, winning 5 on the spin and adding to his tally at Newton Abbot (16.8f) in October. Form went the wrong way since but left chasing debut effort behind when runner-up at Leicester earlier this month. Needs to build on that back down in trip.

Form: 166P42

Jetronic^p1,t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: G & J Moore| OR: 118

12/1

Chase winner in France and landed a Plumpton novice hurdle for Paul Nicholls last spring. Little impact in 4 starts for present yard but he is at least coming down the weights. Tongue tie reapplied and first-time cheekpieces added to try eke out that bit extra.

Form: 16-P5P4

Ballybreeze²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 108| D

17/2

Made winning start over fences at Chepstow in October 2022 but lightly-raced and below that level since. However, he took a step back in the right direction after 9 weeks off when third of 5 at this C&D (soft) just over 3 weeks ago and will need to step up on that to feature.

Form: 7F/U-9P3

Forecasts

Javert Allen (13/8), Teddy Blue (10/3), Beau Balko (10/3), Ballybreeze (17/2), Jetronic (12/1), Major Fortune (12/1)

JAVERT ALLEN can consider himself unlucky not to be unbeaten over fences, ridden perhaps a shade too aggressively when narrowly denied at Chepstow last month. With further progress on the cards, he can regain the winning thread at the expense of Major Fortune, who left his chasing debut effort well behind when finding just one too good at Leicester recently. Teddy Blue, who did plenty wrong when scoring at Kempton last week, completes the shortlist.