15:10 Stratford

Thursday 3 August 2017

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:55

Ian Bird Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 4m 39.6s

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Selected odds by:

Exitas¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Conor Shoemark| T: P W Middleton| OR: 114

18/1

His three career victories came in back to back races in 2014 and he paid a heavy price afterwards over timber. Yet to score over fences in four attempts and was pulled up last month at Worcester on first start of the year. Plenty to prove.

Form: 55P/63-P

Pemba¹⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 113

6/1

Fair hurdler, showed some promise in trio of novice chases last winter. Potentially has more to offer in this sphere and worth a market check on return to action.

Form: 4/252F3-

Capsy De Mee¹³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: James Davies| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 112

5/1

French bumper has shown some glimpses of ability in three starts since arriving in Britain, returns from a layoff here and should be suited by the longer trip.

Form: 53/1953-

While You Wait³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Lucy Gardner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 112| D

25/1

Five wins from 20 starts over timber, most recently in May at Towcester over 2m on good to firm ground. Has since disappointed at Uttoxeter but stays this far and one to note on chase debut.

Form: 300/4-16

My Mo^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: T J O'Brien| T: David Dennis| OR: 112| CD

20/1

Consistent hurdler at a fairly modest level, though only managed one win in nine starts. First time jumping fences now, doesn't appear the most likely of winners in the field.

Form: 22263-6

Theo^h¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 112| D

10/11

Racked up a quick-fire hat-trick this summer after joining this trainer, showing improved form to do so. Switches his attention to fences now and very much one to consider on chase debut give form of recent Newton Abbot success has worked out well.

Form: 66-7111

Earls Fort^p,t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 108| D

12/1

Rattled off a hurdles hat-trick last year before the handicapper took his measure. Run well enough in that sphere this year but was very laboured at Ffos Las (2m, good) in June on chase debut and hard to be confident off that run.

Form: 122-F65

Fair To Middling^p,t⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 103

6/1

Modest ability over timber, may have needed the run on reappearance at Uttoxeter in June when having first start over fences. Not written off entirely with yard currently maintaining 29% strike rate.

Form: P2462-3

Non-Runners

Raleagh Mountain⁸⁹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

Theo (10/11), Capsy De Mee (5/1), Fair To Middling (6/1), Pemba (6/1), Earls Fort (12/1), Raleagh Mountain (12/1), Exitas (18/1), My Mo (20/1), While You Wait (25/1)

Theo has been in super for Dr Richard Newland, racking up an impressive hat-trick over timber and will be a major player if taking to these larger obstacles. That is, of course, open to debate until he does it and so he might be worth taking at the forecast prices. WHILE YOU WAIT doesn't always turn up but he nonetheless won four times and placed five more from 21 hurdles starts for an impressive 28% strike rate. He won at Towcester in May and definitely stays this far so he, also on chase bow, looks an interesting contender and could prove up to this. Capsy De Mee is a well-related French bumper winner who should excel jumping fences while Fair To Middling and Pemba are others with potential in this sphere.