14:00 Uttoxeter

Saturday 18 November 2017

All12:2012:5013:2514:0014:3515:0515:40

Marston's EPA Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 6m 50.04s

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Selected odds by:

Killala Quay^p³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 130| C

14/1

Last season's efforts blighted by uncompleted starts and hard to say his solitary win at Doncaster was anything more than a bolt from the blue. 2-3 around here but looks held by Bob Ford on recent Chepstow running.

Form: PPP1P-8

Bob Ford^h³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 130

11/8

Freshened up by a change of scenery to score under the care of Alistair Ralph last time. Has changed yards again having scored at Chepstow when he was well backed. Up 8lb for that but he has raced off higher marks in the past.

Form: 47P4P-1

Smooth Stepper¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 129

12/1

At his best on soft ground but yet to convince that he sees out trips beyond 3m. Also looks plenty high enough in the handicap and others preferred this time.

Form: 516P-50

Barton Gift^p²⁶⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁷⁾| T: J L Spearing| OR: 127

40/1

Took a couple of runs to find his form last term. On a career high mark on return and others are more appealing.

Form: 09161P-

Shanroe Santos^b1²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: L P Aspell| T: L Wadham| OR: 127

13/2

Winner at Warwick and Sandown last winter and marginally above his last winning mark. Appeared to be nearing his peak when doing best of the patiently ridden horses at Carlisle three weeks ago. Reunited with his winning partner on perfect ground.

Form: 2117-63

Capard King^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr J J O'Neill⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 124| D

10/1

Inconsistent nowadays but would have claims on his two runs at Ludlow last term. Tailed off on reappearance when conditions may have been too lively but hard to trust.

Form: 7P3U0-0

Brownville^p,t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr Zac Baker⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 119| CD

9/2

Goes well here and is now 2-5 at the venue. Went up 7lb for his latest success in May and that looked a harsh assessment. Well beaten here last month when that mark and softer ground conspired against him.

Form: 2446-15

Jennys Surprise³⁷⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Alain Cawley| T: F O'Brien| OR: 117

11/1

Winner of two military races in 2016 and returns after a year's absence. Has gone well when fresh in the past and nicely weighted. Stable in form and ground looks ideal.

Form: 11F/P4U-

Hansupfordetroit^t¹⁸²

Age: 12| Weight: 10-1| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 105

14/1

Almost four years since his last win. A 5lb rise for a narrow defeat in lower grade six months ago makes it harder for him to end that sequence.

Form: 634F4-2

Forecasts

Bob Ford (11/8), Brownville (9/2), Shanroe Santos (13/2), Capard King (10/1), Jennys Surprise (11/1), Smooth Stepper (12/1), Hansupfordetroit (14/1), Killala Quay (14/1), Barton Gift (40/1)

Ifs and buts about most of these with much depending on whether Bob Ford can improve on his recent Chepstow victory to defy an 8lb rise in the weights. He won decisively enough but, given the work that went into reinvigorating him, there is a risk punters may have missed the boat. Killala Quay and Capard King are inconsistent but more than capable of taking this if in the mood. Jennys Surprise is one of the more attractively weighted runners in this if fit and now the ground has turned soft enough. SHANROE SANTOS is another who has been given a chance by the handicapper. His recent Carlisle outing showed he was nearing the levels that brought two successes last season. Lucy Wadham's chaser has a lot going for him with Leighton Aspell back on board and perfect underfoot conditions.