14:45 Doncaster

Sunday 29 December 2019

All11:5512:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:20

MansionBet Proud To Support British Racing Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 6m 11.0s

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Selected odds by:

Allelu Alleluia⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 137

50/1

Won a four-runner Class 2 contest off this mark at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) in May; modest since over hurdles and fences; best on a sound racing surface.

Form: P-16488

Bob Mahler^p³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Brennan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 135| D

6/1

Beat Little Bruce (runs earlier) by 7L when winning for the second time on the bounce at Cheltenham (3m1½f, good) in April; in the grip of the handicapper since; more encouragement when 15L third to Crievehill at Haydock latest.

Form: 811-PP3

Catamaran Du Seuil^p1⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 133| D

7/1

Won twice at Wetherby (2m3½f) in 2018, including when readily accounting for Cracking Find off this mark in November; has largely struggled in 2019 so probably needs the addition of first-time cheekpieces to have the desired effect.

Form: 820P-73

Boldmere¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 133

11/4

Left the care of Graeme McPherson during the summer and is relatively unexposed over fences (1-2); jumped well on handicap debut when a 12L winner at Leicester (2m4f, good to soft) 18 days ago; clobbered by the assessor (10lb higher).

Form: 6192-P1

First Drift²⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Max Kendrick⁽³⁾| T: N B King| OR: 129| C| D

11/1

Showed resolution and tenacity when winning over fences at Hereford (2m, soft) last December; campaigned over hurdles in the main since (sprung a 25-1 surprise at Newbury); first competitive start for 267 days.

Form: P12710-

Spider's Bite³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 128| D

7/1

Finished an encouraging second to King Of Realms on chasing debut at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in November 2018, but hasn't progressed since; toiled on seasonal reappearance in that very same race 36 days ago; risky.

Form: 1P/52U-8

Slanelough^h²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Dobbin| OR: 128| C

9/2

After some off-putting form figures (UFU) has managed to complete over fences (and make the frame) in each of his last two starts; 1lb lower than when 9L third to the subsequent Tommy Whittle Chase winner Lord Du Mesnil at Newcastle (2m7½f, heavy).

Form: 5UF-U23

Lithic^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Alain Cawley| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 127

10/1

Twice worn down in gruelling finishes earlier in the year (Uttoxeter & Exeter, both 3m soft) and remains a maiden over fences (0-15); same mark as when a staying on third to Dashing Perk at Sandown (2m4f) latest.

Form: 5223-P3

Kings Monarch³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 122| D

6/1

Successful twice earlier in the year (at Fontwell (2m5½f) & Hereford (2m5f)); probably ran just about his best race since when third (beaten 11½L) to the gallant veteran Perfect Candidate at Haydock (3m4f) five weeks ago; place claims.

Form: 15-4443

Non-Runners

Looksnowtlikebrian⁴⁶

Weight: 11-11| Age: 8

T: Tim Vaughan J: Charlie Price

Forecasts

Boldmere (11/4), Slanelough (9/2), Bob Mahler (6/1), Kings Monarch (6/1), Catamaran Du Seuil (7/1), Spider's Bite (7/1), Lithic (10/1), First Drift (11/1), Looksnowtlikebrian (14/1), Allelu Alleluia (50/1)

An open looking handicap chase in which it could pay to take aim at a horse at double figure odds with the recent Leicester winner Boldmere clobbered by the handicapper. Lithic remains a maiden over fences and as is tradition was spotted finishing off well (under pressure) at Sandown, while the likes of Slanelough (Newcastle form advertised since by Lord Du Mesnil) and Kings Monarch could feasibly sneak a place. However, assuming that wind surgery has proved beneficial for LOOKSNOWTLIKEBRIAN a case of sorts can be made on his Carlisle comeback fourth to Pop Rockstar. The 5lb claim of Charlie Price is considered helpful to his overall chances.