RACE 4 3.25

THE FOCUS NOVICES’ HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 3) (GBB RACE)

for novice five yrs old and upwards

Total prize fund £18150

(For conditions of this race see page 47)

TWO MILES ABOUT FOUR FURLONGS (2m 3f 187yds)

Leading course trainer (17-22): F O’Brien (14 wins from 87 runners, 16%) runs NOTHIN TO ASK

Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): O Greenall & J Guerriero (5 wins from 18 runners, 28%) runs HERBIERS Longest Traveller: HERBIERS trained by O Greenall & J Guerriero, Malpas, 155 miles.

RACE FACTS: BREEDING J JOCKEY OWNER TRAINER FORM Br BREEDER S SPONSOR

HEADGEAR KEY: H HOOD B BLINKERS V VISOR E EYESHIELD T TONGUE STRAP CP SHEEPSKIN CHEEKPIECES

COLOURS NO HORSE/DAYS SINCE LAST RUN

1 HERBIERS (FR) (21)

B g Waldpark (GER) - Qualanke (FR) (Sassanian (USA))

Nevers and Stockton Hall Farm Racing

Br Jacques Cypres

AGE ST LB

6 11 6

BHA137

J Henry Brooke

Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero, Malpas 2-01552 C

S Swansway T CP

TIMEFORM VIEW Useful performer who benefited from a drop in grade when landing a handicap hurdle here (16.3f) in November Chase debut was a washout but much more like it when going close over 2 1/4m at Kempton 3 weeks ago and strong claims for his in-form yard. TFRHHHHH

2 BRIEFTIMES (IRE) (67)

B g Doyen (IRE) - Dali’s Theatre (Lomitas)

7 11 2

BHA133

J Harry Cobden

Ms S. Exell Neil Mulholland, Limpley Stoke 02-2215 D BF

Br Ms T. Hassett T

TIMEFORM VIEW Bumper/fairly useful hurdles winner who opened his chase account when comfortably landing a 3-runner Plumpton novices’ handicap (19.7f) in November Probably best not judged too harshly on latest effort at Wetherby (since undergone a wind op) and he remains of interest. STEWARDS NOTE: Following its run on 26/12/2022 it was reported that the horse made a few jumping mistakes.

3

NOTHINTO ASK (IRE) (62)

B g Ask - Nothin To Say (IRE) (Beneficial)

8 11 2

The FOB Racing Partnership 11 Fergal O’Brien, Cheltenham

Br P. & D. Kavanagh

TFRHHHII

BHA133

J Paddy Brennan

133-11P

S Bresbet T

TIMEFORM VIEW Fair novice hurdler last season who made a winning return/chase debut at Chepstow in October Duly followed up at Doncaster a month later and can certainly be given a chance, assuming that his somewhat inauspicious effort here upped to 22.4f last time proves to be a one-off.

TFRHHHHI

NUMBER OF DECLARED RUNNERS 3 (EXACTA)

Tongue Strap worn by No. 1, 2, 3. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No. 1. Running for the first time since Wind Surgery No. 2.

2022: NO CORRESPONDING RACE LAST YEAR

Betting Forecast: 6-4

Herbiers (FR), 15-8 Brief Times (IRE), 5-2

Nothin To Ask (IRE)

Race Summary: HERBIERS left his low-key chase debut well behind when just touched off at Kempton and he looks the way to go. That said, it would be no surprise were Nothin To Ask and Brief Times to both get back on track following rather disappointing last-time-out efforts, with Fergal O’Brien’s charge feared most.

1-2-3: 1.HERBIERS (FR) 2.NOTHIN TO ASK (IRE) 3.BRIEF TIMES (IRE)