14:45 Newton Abbot

Thursday 22 August 2024

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:2517:0017:30

Happy Birthday Jo Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 6m 25.63s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Great D'Ange^p1,t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Martin McIntyre⁽⁷⁾| T: F Brennan| OR: 100

80/1

Won Market Rasen handicap chase (23.9f) last season on first of 3 starts for Robbie Llewellyn. Good second next time but has struggled for form under Rules since, well held back over hurdles at Les Landes on debut for this stable in July. Cheekpieces applied.

Form: 6P-P224

Backinaction⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 100

20/1

Irish point winner who stepped forward from his hurdles debut when fourth in a Taunton novice (19f) in April. However, he hasn't gone on from that effort this season, shaping as if amiss when pulled up at this course (21.6f) last time. Makes chase bow.

Form: 1P4-45P

Favori De Sivola^b,t⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 100

18/1

Potentially well handicapped and, having rejoined his former yard from David Pipe, hinted at a revival after 7 months off/wind op at this C&D in June. Went backwards from his return, though, when tailed off at Worcester 45 days ago. Blinkers now reapplied.

Form: 545P-40

Dindin^b²³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 98

25/1

Successful at Worcester (23f) last June but struggled for consistency the remainder of the season, runner-up on 3 occasions before ending the campaign with a lesser effort when well beaten at Taunton in December. Has a 7-month absence to overcome.

Form: 4P2625-

Prince Cleni⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 85

11/1

Little form over hurdles but off the mark in handicap chase at Southwell (24.3f) last summer. Struggled for form subsequently, but back on track when second at Fontwell (He'llstopatthetop fell at the last) in May before going one better back at Southwell. Shortlisted.

Form: 44P-P21

He'llstopatthetop⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Kimber| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 85

9/2

Maiden pointer who would have probably won but for departing at the last in handicap chase at Fontwell (26f, good) on penultimate outing. Creditable effort over hurdles there since and he could yet do better back over fences. Major player.

Form: 7PP5-F4

Hey Bud^p²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: Ella Pickard| OR: 84

66/1

Sole success came over hurdles back in 2019 and form has gone the wrong way for current yard, pulled up on return from 8 months off in handicap chase at Uttoxeter (26.1f, good) in July. Looks to be up against it.

Form: 237/55-P

Caitlin's Court^p1,t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Bryony Frost| T: J D Frost| OR: 82| C

7/1

Hurdles winner at this course on 2023/24 return, but ended the campaign out of form and fared little better on first 2 starts this season. Again below her best when fifth of 14 in handicap here (21f, good to soft) on chase debut a month ago. Cheekpieces added.

Form: 67P-P65

William Ewart^b1,t⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 82

11/2

Opened his chase account at Southwell (24.3f, heavy) in February and soon left behind a lesser effort when third at this C&D (good to soft) in July, though made quite hard work of things with headgear left off. Could be in the mix with blinkers on first time.

Form: 1333-43

Dirk Gently^b1,t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 80

17/2

Placed in 3 handicaps last summer, including on chase debut at Worcester (20f) on final occasion. Temperament has long been under suspicion, though, and ran no sort of race back over hurdles at Worcester 35 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 2P-0450

Ballinoulart^p⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: C Gethings| T: David Dennis| OR: 77

5/1

Remains a maiden but made the frame once more since switched to chasing when fourth at Worcester (23f) in June. Rare below-par effort upped in trip when sixth of 11 at this C&D (good) last time, so bounce back called for having since left Alastair Ralph.

Form: 234-346

Radharc Na Slaine^t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Conor Ring| T: D A Rees| OR: 73

7/1

Maiden Irish pointer who offered little over hurdles. However, he's been going the right way in a trio of handicap chases at this course this season, runner-up on his latest outing (21f, good to soft). Enters calculations back up in trip.

Form: PPP-U42

Kooky^b1,t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Rex Dingle| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 69

16/1

Reached the frame in first 2 starts over hurdles but has failed to kick on since sent handicapping, including over fences on his last 4 outings. Application of blinkers needs to help spark improvement as he races from 5 lb out of the weights.

Form: 7PP-667

Emberscombe⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: S Bowen| T: J Tickle| OR: 68

14/1

Down the field in a bumper and completed starts over hurdles when trained by Jeremy Scott. However, after winning a point she showed her first form under Rules when runner-up in novice handicap at this C&D (good) in June. Needs to find more again.

Form: 98P-612

Forecasts

He'llstopatthetop (9/2), Ballinoulart (5/1), William Ewart (11/2), Radharc Na Slaine (7/1), Caitlin's Court (7/1), Dirk Gently (17/2), Prince Cleni (11/1), Emberscombe (14/1), Kooky (16/1), Favori De Sivola (18/1), Backinaction (20/1), Dindin (25/1), Hey Bud (66/1), Great D'Ange (80/1)

Making his third start in chases, HE'LLSTOPATTHETOP was over a length in front when falling at the last at Fontwell in May, so after a creditable run over hurdles he is taken open his account with more still to offer back in this sphere. Radharc Na Slaine has shown more since sent chasing and could be the main danger, ahead of Prince Cleni.