2.00 2m. 4f. 127yds. 19 Declared. Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1 ) of £125,000.00 5-y-o plus
1st - €64,300.00 2nd - €29,562.00 3rd - €14,788.00 4th - €7,388.00 5th - €3,700.00 6th - €1,838.00 7th - €925.00 8th - €462.00
Formscan - Fourth in last year's Supreme, Asian Master has yet to score in three starts over fences, but is expected to improve for this extra distance. The latter comment also applies to Nurburgring, who finished strongly for fourth in last year's Triumph Hurdle, although he jumped poorly over fences when disappointing at Leopardstown in December. Firefox finished a creditable third in the Irish Arkle last time and was beaten less than a length in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse earlier in the season. A bold bid is anticipated from Gordon Elliott's charge, although it's the highly-progressive SPRINGWELL BAY that makes most appeal. He finished runner-up here in December before returning the emphatic winner of a competitive handicap over C&D and is taken to defy a 9lb rise. Moon D'orange was a less impressive winner over these fences in January.