12:25 Wincanton

Thursday 1 December 2022

All12:2512:5513:2513:5514:2514:5515:25

Feeling Festive Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:27 | Winning time: 5m 8.31s

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Selected odds by:

Dash Of Blue^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Charlie Case⁽⁷⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 106| D

5/2

Fair winning hurdler who made light of a 21-month absence to strike on his Southwell chase debut (20.5f, good) 3 weeks ago. He could easily have more to offer over fences. Leading claims.

Form: 31494/1

Hiway One O Three^t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Alice Stevens⁽³⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 104| BF| D

5/4

Much improved with a tongue tie fitted over hurdles, rattling off a quick-fire hat-trick last spring. Shaped as if he'll be better for the experience when fourth on his Lingfield chase debut 23 days ago. Likely improver for in-form stable.

Form: 95111-4

Harlem Soul¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: S Hosie| OR: 110| C

25/1

Fairly useful on Flat and improved on opening hurdle exploits (on debut for Colin Tizzard) when successful in a 2m novice here in March. However, he's shown little for current yard this season and it remains to be seen if a switch to fences improves matters.

Form: 2-UU606

Dock Road^p¹⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 100| BF

11/2

Back to form in blinkers when second over hurdles at Southwell in April but the headgear didn't work as well a second time at Uttoxeter 2 months later (final start for Ben Pauling). Limited impact in 4 chase starts for previous stable. Watching brief is advised.

Form: 505P2-5

Welsh's Castle^b1,t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr I Herbert⁽⁷⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 97

40/1

Fair form over hurdles but hasn't achieved much in 4 previous attempts over fences, while he was also pulled up in a Ludlow handicap hurdle on last month's return for a new stable. First-time blinkers replace cheekpieces.

Form: 4433-2P

Happy News^t²⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: S Allwood| OR: 94| DWS

17/2

Rather lost the plot for John Groucott at the start of 2022 but she has a good record fresh and has dropped to a mark 11 lb lower than when scoring on her Ludlow reappearance last season. Has had wind surgery. Interesting runner, particularly if backed.

Form: P3P087-

Joey Steel⁷⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Daniel Ellis⁽⁷⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 92

22/1

Dual handicap chase winner but unreliable, rather throwing it away when second at Newton Abbot on penultimate start then bombing out totally back there last time. 3 lb rise doesn't help his cause.

Form: 6-38P25

Eurkash⁴⁹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr Jack Cater⁽⁷⁾| T: P R Webber| OR: 87

18/1

Got off the mark over fences at Bangor (17f, heavy) in December 2020. Also runner-up twice in spring 2021 but pulled too hard when a below-form fourth over hurdles under this rider at Worcester in July 2021 and not seen since.

Form: 4022/64-

Forecasts

Hiway One O Three (5/4), Dash Of Blue (5/2), Dock Road (11/2), Happy News (17/2), Eurkash (18/1), Joey Steel (22/1), Harlem Soul (25/1), Welsh's Castle (40/1)

It may pay to focus on the pair at the top of the weights who likely have more to offer over fences. DASH OF BLUE impressed with his accurate jumping when making a successful start to his chase career at Southwell and is narrowly preferred to Lingfield fourth Hiway One O Three. Happy News has a good record fresh and would also enter the reckoning if the market vibes are strong on her return for a new stable.