15:23 Taunton

Wednesday 21 December 2022

All12:5313:2313:5314:2314:5315:2315:53

Invest Southwest Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 4m 52.03s

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Selected odds by:

Doyen La Lutte^p²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 100

9/1

Winning pointer who made the frame on several occasions over timber last term. Failed to land a blow on return/chase debut at Ffos Las but she's likely to make her mark in this sphere before long.

Form: 90274-6

Imperial Joe¹⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Houlihan| T: T Dennis| OR: 95| BF

3/1

Exeter hurdles winner during the spring and looked a natural chaser when easily scoring on debut in this sphere at Newton Abbot (21f) 2 months later. Collared close home over 16.3f there when last seen in June and remains open to improvement.

Form: 2165-12

Folly Gate^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr Peter Summers⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 94

10/3

Remains a maiden following 19 starts overall but has found just one too good on 2 of his last 3 starts, most recently over this C&D last month. Evidently goes well for this amateur rider and another bold show could be on the way.

Form: 3U6-282

Captain Cuckoo^p,t¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 91

125/1

Failed to get his head in front from 9 attempts between the flags and record under Rules stands at 0-12. Others preferred.

Form: 42U4F-P

Call Me Freddie²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R P McLernon| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 90

80/1

Hurdles winner over 3m in Ireland but hasn't shown much in 4 starts in this sphere to date, finishing a long way adrift of Folly Gate in the C&D handicap won by Miladygrace last time. Yard also saddles Lightning Gold.

Form: P869-37

Urabamba^t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Woollacott| OR: 90

16/1

Winner of 2m Wexford maiden hurdle for Henry de Bromhead in summer 2021. Showed an aptitude for this game when fourth on chase debut at Lingfield (2m) recently but improvement will be needed if he's to emerge on top here.

Form: 0765-74

Legendary Rhythm^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 82| BF

11/2

Stepped up on low-key hurdles efforts in October when second in a 4-runner Leicester handicap (2m) back in this sphere at the beginning of the month. First-time cheekpieces she wore that day are retained here and she's not without hope.

Form: 355-752

Letsbe Avenue^p²⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 82

17/2

Positive start over fences in first-time cheekpieces when second of 9 at Ludlow in February. Ran no sort of a race at Fakenham next time (without cheekpieces) but headgear refitted here and he could have a part to play if fully tuned-up on debut for new yard.

Form: 3/79724-

Megalodon¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 81

16/1

Modest 2m winner over hurdles. Stepped up on previous chase efforts when third at Lingfield (2m) recently but he looks vulnerable all the same.

Form: 5324/63

Estate Italiana^t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: James Davies| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 76

50/1

Offered precious little in 3 starts over hurdles last season and fared no better on return/chase debut here.

Form: 8P97-8

Dark Storm^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Ffrench-Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: W G M Turner| OR: 74

25/1

Showed nothing in 2 starts over fences last month following a lengthy absence and can only be watched at present.

Form: 5565/0P

My Rockstar²⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Reed| T: Mrs H E Rees| OR: 73

25/1

Little to shout about over hurdles and big step forward required now tackling the larger obstacles.

Form: 45P76P-

Gaelic Thunder^b,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Bryan Carver| T: C Honour| OR: 73

11/2

Produced one of his better efforts when second in a handicap chase at Exeter on return in October but he has failed to build on that in 3 subsequent starts.

Form: 53-2643

Non-Runners

Lightning Gold³⁶

Weight: 10-12| Age: 7

T: Mrs R Ford J: Mitchell Bastyan

Forecasts

Imperial Joe (3/1), Folly Gate (10/3), Gaelic Thunder (11/2), Legendary Rhythm (11/2), Lightning Gold (6/1), Letsbe Avenue (17/2), Doyen La Lutte (9/1), Urabamba (16/1), Megalodon (16/1), My Rockstar (25/1), Dark Storm (25/1), Estate Italiana (50/1), Call Me Freddie (80/1), Captain Cuckoo (125/1)

IMPERIAL JOE jumped with aplomb when making a winning start over fences at Newton Abbot in May and was just touched off at the same course the following month. This 6-y-o probably has more to offer in this sphere and will prove a tough nut to crack if ready to roll following a summer break. Folly Gate put in a good shift over C&D last time and is next on the list ahead of Letsbe Avenue and Doyen La Lutte, who can be expected to leave her low-key chase debut well behind in time.