15:45 Wincanton

Thursday 2 February 2017

All13:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:45

Dick Hunt Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 5m 27.5s

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Selected odds by:

Bennys Mist^b1²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: L Treadwell| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 139

8/1

First-time blinkers applied today as connections hope to galvanise him into a return to the sort of form that saw him do well in December 2015 and the early part of last year. 1lb higher than a soft ground Ascot success 14 months ago and a return to form cannot be confidently ruled out.

Form: P1320-8

Oscar Sunset³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 134

14/1

Made decent strides in the novices' ranks last year, but has a fair bit to prove on the evidence of his last three starts and looks best watched.

Form: 3F/93P2-

Dusky Lark^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 132

12/1

10lb higher than when landing a soft ground Huntingdon contest (2m 4f) in April, Has run well on all four subsequent starts to be runner-up each time, though handicapper just has the edge at the moment.

Form: 6412-22

Pilgrims Bay^p,h¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Nick Scholfield| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 131

7/1

Hurdle and chase win have both been at around this trip, the latter coming in December from a 7lb lower mark. Held from today's pitch here last time, though given the form of the yard he may still be able to progress enough to win again.

Form: 2325-1F

Vic De Touzaine¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: T Scudamore| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 129

5/1

Handicapper did not miss his eight-length Leicester win (2m 4f, heavy) last time, putting him up 9lb for that maiden success. Consistent performer, however, who should give a good account once again.

Form: 32U1-22

Rouge Et Blanc^p³⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 10-13| J: Thomas Garner⁽³⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 127

20/1

5lb higher than his last win and a veteran who is opposable on that basis, given recent efforts.

Form: 2615P0

Ballygarvey²²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 126

13/2

Contested some decent races three or four years ago, though powers gradually on the wane. Trip and forecast ground will suit and handicapper gives him his best chance for a long time, though hard to be confident.

Form: 146U/62-

Gores Island¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: William Clarke⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 124

7/1

3lb lower than his 2m win here two years ago (heavy) and has been consistent in making the frame ten times since. Stays this far and has 10lb claim to come off, though he has that last time when beaten and finds himself higher in the handicap as a result.

Form: 235F52-

Flaming Charmer³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: R Johnson| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 120

7/2

Twice a heavy ground winner over 2m to 2m 4f including off a mark of 114 at Exeter in December (2m 3f). Well beaten from this 6lb higher mark last time and his CV suggests that the handicapper is probably back in the driving seat.

Form: 7P14/P1

Rothman^h,t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 117

8/1

Yard among the winners of late and ran pretty well behind the useful Foxtail Hull at Kempton last time. Trip and likely going are no problem for him and with the stable having winners of late, he has to enter calculation with just a feather weight.

Form: 132-223

Non-Runners

Pain Au Chocolat²⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

Flaming Charmer (7/2), Vic De Touzaine (5/1), Ballygarvey (13/2), Pilgrims Bay (7/1), Gores Island (7/1), Rothman (8/1), Bennys Mist (8/1), Pain Au Chocolat (10/1), Dusky Lark (12/1), Oscar Sunset (14/1), Rouge Et Blanc (20/1)

Ballygarvey has been given his best chance for some time, though we will take a chance on ROTHMAN to come good. Chris Gordon's charge is likely to get the ground to suit ad can follow-up a decent Kempton effort last time and upset one or two more illustrious opponents. One of those is Bennys Mist, who should give a good account and the same goes for stablemate Vic De Touzaine and Pilgrims Bay, who is worth another chance. 1. Rothman 2. Bennys Mist 3. Pilgrims Bay