13:20 Kempton

Thursday 26 December 2019

All12:5013:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Ladbrokes 'Where The Nation Plays' Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 13:21 | Winning time: 5m 4.12s

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Selected odds by:

Simply The Betts⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| OR: 140

5/1

Unbeaten over fences (2-2), and seemingly rejuvenated by the switch to the larger obstacles; 8lb higher than when easily landing the odds in a three-runner affair at Newcastle (2m½f, heavy) six weeks ago; a major player despite tackling a new trip.

Form: 1184-11

Fidux²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 140| C| D

20/1

Won minor summer novice chases at Hexham (2m4f) and Stratford (2m6½f) before being outclassed by Dashel Drasher at Haydock (2m5½f) three weeks ago; furthermore, the forecast soft ground is an obvious concern.

Form: 03-U113

Commanche Red⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: C Gordon| OR: 137| C

4/1

Won over hurdles from a mark of 127 at Wincanton (1m7½f, good) in March; placed on both starts over fences this season, and this is a more suitable option than when 7¾L third to Reserve Tank in a 2m4f Wincanton Gr 2.

Form: 731P-33

Doctor Dex³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 136| BF

13/2

Made a smooth winning chasing debut at Ascot (2m3f, gd/soft) in November - third-placed Earlofthecotswolds has won since; gallant C&D runner-up from an 8lb higher mark next time; debatable as to whether or not that merits a further 2lb rise.

Form: 1176-12

Roll Again⁸^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 129

3/1

Former Closutton inmate (Willie Mullins); joined the in-form Venetia Williams for £48,000 in May; carries a 7lb penalty for last week's easy Ludlow (3m, soft) win; a real force to be reckoned with if granted a similar easy lead.

Form: 155-041

Hold The Note^p³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: T Scudamore| T: M R Channon| OR: 133| BF

7/1

Displayed potential in bumpers and over hurdles; driven out to beat Ivilnoble by ¾L in a 2m3f+ novices' hurdle at Doncaster (good) last December; lightly raced since; could progress from his Ludlow (2m4f, soft) chasing debut third to Western Ryder.

Form: 14312-3

On The Slopes³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: C Gordon| OR: 130

9/1

Stablemate of Commanche Red; is without a win since scoring over hurdles (2m1½f novice) at Fontwell 12 months ago; has finished behind the reopposing Doctor Dex on each of his last two starts, so has work to do to in order to reverse placings.

Form: 403-423

Envoye Special^h,t⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 129

12/1

Ex-French racer; was having just his second start for Paul Nicholls when finishing a well beaten sixth in this race last year; seldom seen since; wears a hood and tongue-tie; is seemingly far from the top rank at Ditcheat.

Form: 22/262-6

Muratello⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128WS

16/1

Won over hurdles in France for G.Macaire (2m1½f at Rochefort-Sur-Loire); 0-4 for Nigel Twiston-Davies; weakened tamely on chasing debut at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) and has had wind surgery since; on balance, it's still relatively early days.

Form: 2V330-8

Mile House⁸²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: J E Moore| T: R Stephens| OR: 125| D

66/1

Won over hurdles (Cl 3) at Worcester (2m4f, good) in August 2017 before being edged out close home by Wait For Me over fences there the following month; absent since and that sets the alarm bells ringing; look elsewhere.

Form: UF6212/

Mr Mcgo^p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 120| BF

20/1

Remains a rules maiden over fences (0-6); in contention until the second last when a beaten (and weakening) 2-1f at Bangor (3m, heavy) four weeks ago; 1lb lower with the 3lb claimer Lorcan Murtagh in the saddle; others make more appeal.

Form: PF54-23

Non-Runners

Solomon Grey³³

Weight: 11-6| Age: 7

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

Roll Again (3/1), Commanche Red (4/1), Simply The Betts (5/1), Doctor Dex (13/2), Hold The Note (7/1), On The Slopes (9/1), Envoye Special (12/1), Solomon Grey (12/1), Muratello (16/1), Mr Mcgo (20/1), Fidux (20/1), Mile House (66/1)

Doctor Dex has made a solid start to his chasing career, yet continues to inch steadily up the weights. Simply The Betts has always possessed talent and he fenced most professionally when making it 2-2 over fences in a decent enough three-runner affair at Newcastle six weeks ago. Stepping up in trip off an 8lb higher mark he has considerably more on his plate but remains a thoroughly likeable individual. Meanwhile, the eased-in-grade Commanche Red is the pick of the Chris Gordon pair. However, such is the red-hot form of Venetia Williams (13-27; 48% over the past 14 days), the penalised front-runner ROLL AGAIN almost picks himself as the most logical selection.