Fitzdares National Huntingdon Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:17 | Winning time: 5m 8.3s

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Selected odds by:

Second Time Around¹⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 117

9/4

Bumper winner came within a neck of a first hurdles success when runner-up over an extended 2m7f at Hexham (good) in June. Decent fifth subsequently and drops in trip on debut over fences following a break.

Form: 675-425

Zen Master²²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: C J Mann| OR: 117

6/1

Held third when unseating at the last in a 2m5f handicap chase at Fakenham (good-to-soft) last time out. Returning from a short break that day and remains of interest.

Form: 29-224U

Well Smitten²²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 113

9/1

Pulled up in a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Hexham (good) in May on his final start for previous yard. Cheekpieces worn for the first time that day are dispensed with on chase and stable debut.

Form: 26/U72-P

Always On The Ball^p⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 107

9/1

PLaced twice in point-to-points and signs of ability on his first two hurdles starts. Pulled up on handicap debut in tongue tie (left off here) and cheekpieces (retained) at Southwell (good) in October and quickly switched to fences.

Form: 4224-3P

Le Capricieux²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: N F Houlihan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 105

6/1

Promising 16L fourth in a 2m novices' handicap chase at Hereford (good-to-soft) a month ago when returning from a break. Interesting off a 2lb lower mark.

Form: 1F3F5-4

Braw Angus⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 95| C

4/1

Pulled up on three of his four starts this year and beaten 49L at Chepstow (good) over an extended 2m3f on seasonal debut in October. Well handicapped on his form of 2017.

Form: 45PPP-0

Shininstar²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Miss L Brooke⁽⁷⁾| T: J Groucott| OR: 84| D

9/2

Broke his maiden when winning under this rider at Ludlow (2m4f, good-to-soft). Interesting contender racing from out of the handicap.

Form: 335331

Forecasts

Second Time Around (9/4), Braw Angus (4/1), Shininstar (9/2), Le Capricieux (6/1), Zen Master (6/1), Well Smitten (9/1), Always On The Ball (9/1)

SECOND TIME AROUND has the ground to suit and he can register a victory on his chase debut in this small field contest. The selection looks capable of getting the better of Well Smitten who was in good form for much of last season and debuts for a new trainer while third place can go the way of last time out winner Shininstar.