15:10 Taunton

Thursday 9 December 2021

All12:3013:0013:3514:1014:4015:1015:40

Dave Criddle Travel Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 4m 35.85s

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Selected odds by:

Nietzsche^p,t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Jack Andrews⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 130

8/1

Useful chaser but ran poorly at Uttoxeter in May, then jumped ponderously before refusing at Cheltenham 4 weeks ago. Cheekpieces back on and will find this much less competitive.

Form: 3381-0R

Nickolson³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 130

6/4

Fairly useful 15f winner over hurdles. Sort to make his mark over fences and duly made a promising start to this sphere when second at Warwick on return. Should have more to offer in this sphere.

Form: 2/2685-2

Glajou^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 127

9/2

Ex-French hurdler who improved for switch to chasing last term, successful at Southwell. Ended the campaign out of form but offered something to work on back over hurdles here on return.

Form: 413F3-2

Quoi De Neuf^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 123

11/2

Point winner who made an encouraging start over fences when runner-up at Aintree. Disappointed in 2 subsequent starts last season but return fourth at Fakenham was a step back in right direction.

Form: B0/26P-4

Master Work^p⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 123| CD

16/1

Pulled up last 2 starts 7 months apart but won this race last year off this mark so can't be dismissed.

Form: 7512P-P

Born In Borris³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 115

12/1

Point/novice hurdle winner who showed promise when third on chase debut at Exeter (17.5f) a year ago. Pulled up here next time, however, and well held at Kempton on return.

Form: 3633P-4

Shiroccan Roll^v²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 114

12/1

Winning hurdler. Mixed record over fences but responded well to this headgear when scoring at Market Rasen under this rider 3 weeks ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 3-63541

Romanor²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Daniel Sansom⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 113| D

15/2

Headstrong sort who has little in hand off his current mark but at least deserves credit for his consistency, creditable third of 7 in handicap chase (5/1) at Fontwell (19.5f, good) 25 days ago.

Form: 232323

Forecasts

Nickolson (6/4), Glajou (9/2), Quoi De Neuf (11/2), Romanor (15/2), Nietzsche (8/1), Shiroccan Roll (12/1), Born In Borris (12/1), Master Work (16/1)

NICKOLSON bettered his hurdles form at the first attempt when second in a novice chase at Warwick on his return and looks on a good mark switched to a handicap. Nietzsche ran no sort of race in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham but he will find this much less competitive and isn't one to be writing off yet, while Glajou took a step back in the right direction back over hurdles here on return.