Sky Sports Racing Launching January 2019 Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 6m 17.8s

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Selected odds by:

Actinpieces¹⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Miss Gina Andrews⁽³⁾| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 142| CD

10/3

Dual winner here, including this race last year on good (although ideally wants it softer). 3lb higher than when last scoring at Ludlow in January and looks up against it from this mark.

Form: 28415-9

Hogan's Height^t¹⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 139

9/2

Completed a hat-trick in chases at around 2m4f last winter, before finding the going too tough in an Aintree Grade 1. Returns fresh and has a decent record when that is the case. Needs further improvement, but should be very competitive.

Form: 721116-

Ballykan^p,t²³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 133| D

15/8

Without a win for over two years, though has only dropped to a mark 4lb below that last success. Beaten less than 4L from this mark in a Kempton Grade 3 when last seen in February. More needed, but can go well fresh and not ruled out.

Form: P30422-

Midnight Shot^p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 130

7/2

Multiple winner at up to 2m5½f, and yet to prove that he gets this trip. Held from just 1lb higher last time and has a fair bit to prove.

Form: 6-6P615

Gallery Exhibition^t²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr G Disney⁽⁷⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 128| D

33/1

2lb higher than his last win, at Kempton (3m, good) in April last year. Well below that level in all starts since, so arrives with plenty to prove.

Form: 61/630-U

Carlos Du Fruitier^b1²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 126

8/1

Was 7L second from this mark at Newton Abbot in June. The winner there did not do wonders for the form next time and nor did this gelding when last seen at Uttoxeter. Blinkers on but plenty to prove, including stamina.

Form: P48-U20

Forecasts

Ballykan (15/8), Actinpieces (10/3), Midnight Shot (7/2), Hogan's Height (9/2), Carlos Du Fruitier (8/1), Gallery Exhibition (33/1)

He may have been out of his depth when last seen in the spring, but HOGAN'S HEIGHT can go well fresh and might have too much class for this field from this mark. Actinpieces goes well here, but looks to have a few pounds too many, and Ballykan can probably emerge as the biggest danger to the selection.