15:50 Wincanton

Saturday 7 January 2023

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Virgin Bet Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:53 | Winning time: 6m 59.22s

Settings

Selected odds by:

No Hubs No Hoobs^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-4| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁷⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 104| CD

15/8

Not the most consistent but proved better than ever when springing something of a surprise by landing a C&D handicap 12 days ago. 5 lb rise tolerable and that was just his fourth start over fences, so he's one to consider with Freddie Gingell again in the hot-seat.

Form: 685-2P1

Paseo²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 99| BF

4/1

Back with a bang when making all on return at Ludlow (23.8f, soft) in November. Clearly has two ways of running and wasn't on a going day at Southwell next time, to put it mildly, but he will be a big player if in the mood here.

Form: 83-2315

Famous Last Word³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 99

10/1

Low-mileage 7-y-o who improved when third upped to 25f on handicap debut over hurdles at Warwick in May 2021. First run since when fifth of 6 at Exeter last month and while he's entitled to come on for it, he's probably best watched on this chase debut.

Form: 3P53/3-5

Beyond Redemption^t²⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 98

7/1

Four-time winner between the flags, including twice last spring. However, record under Rules (0-8) is not so good and it's hard to know what to expect back from an 8-month absence on debut for new yard.

Form: 412118-

My Bad Lucy^p⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 90

9/2

Point winner who has yet to trouble the judge following 7 starts under Rules. That said, he wasn't beaten far in first-time cheekpieces (retained) when third in a 5-runner handicap chase at Doncaster (3m, good) last time and should be in the mix off the same mark here.

Form: 8/553-53

Captain Cuckoo^b1,t¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: David Noonan| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 86

66/1

Remains a maiden both between the flags and under Rules, and it's hard to envisage this 11-y-o turning the tide here following a couple of dismal displays since returning to action last month. Now tried in blinkers.

Form: 2U4F-PP

Call Me Freddie^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 84

22/1

Hurdles winner over 3m in Ireland but hasn't shown much in 5 starts in this sphere to date.

Form: 869-37P

Kenyan Cowboy^b⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Max Kendrick| T: N B King| OR: 80

18/1

Pulled up on each of his last 4 starts, including on sole previous start over fences at Hexham during the spring, and it's probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: 99PP-PP

El Diablo^b1,t1⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Benjamin Poste| T: H Dickin| OR: 78

25/1

Winner of sole start between the flags but hasn't shown much in the way of form over hurdles and no impact on first go at chasing in a handicap at Huntingdon in November. Now blinkered/tongue tied.

Form: P4-P084

Etincelle Artiste^t⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: James Best| T: Mrs F M Shaw| OR: 75

22/1

Runner-up in a point but had wind op before Rules debut and limited impact in pair of novice hurdles for Dan Skelton. Similar story both starts for this yard and big step forward needed now switched to fences.

Form: 2P87-8

Dorado Dollar^p,t³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Harriet Tucker⁽⁷⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 67

14/1

Poor maiden who looks set for another struggle from 7 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 772-553

Non-Runners

Treacys Jim⁵⁸

Weight: 10-3| Age: 9

T: J D Frost J: Bryony Frost

Dogem By Design⁴⁵

Weight: 10-2| Age: 6

T: R Potter J: Brendan Powell

Forecasts

No Hubs No Hoobs (15/8), Paseo (4/1), My Bad Lucy (9/2), Beyond Redemption (7/1), Famous Last Word (10/1), Dorado Dollar (14/1), Kenyan Cowboy (18/1), Dogem By Design (20/1), Treacys Jim (20/1), Etincelle Artiste (22/1), Call Me Freddie (22/1), El Diablo (25/1), Captain Cuckoo (66/1)

While his overall profile is hardly compelling, NO HUBS NO HOOBS produced by far his best effort yet when getting off the mark over this C&D recently and a 5 lb rise may not be enough to prevent him from going in again. The obvious caveat is that if Paseo is able to put his latest run behind him and returns to the form of his wide-margin Ludlow success in November, he will be a huge threat. My Bad Lucy is third choice on the back of a fair effort at Doncaster.