14:10 Leicester
Wednesday 1 February 2017
All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:40
Running Hare Handicap Chase
- 5YO plus  |  Class 4  |  2m 4f 45y  |  Good to Soft (Soft in places)  |  8 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 14:11Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 5m 17.0s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
First-time blinkers need to have a significant effect here because he has failed to complete on his last three starts, though there is some hope now that he is 2lb lower than his last win. Would prefer some cut in the ground.
Has won three from 12 career starts, though the last of those was going on for two years ago. Ran well enough here last time and slips a further 1lb today, while the drop back to this trip also looks another positive. Ground is no problem and he is a likely player.
Now 17lb lower than for his most recent win, which was a 2m 4f handicap chase at Bangor (good) in October 2015. Losing run now stretches into double figures but if he retains anything like his previous ability then another win can't be too long in coming.
Won 3-4 in the early part of 2015, but was then off the track until November and has thus far failed to sparkle in three runs this season. Now on a very handy mark as a result and connections keeping the faith, so a market check is advised.
Went well at Wetherby last time after being off the track for over a year, but now up 6lb despite not winning there. Nonetheless, he proved his well being and he has run well enough from higher marks than this in the past, so another good run not ruled out.
Races from his lowest mark in four years here and twice went close from 5lb higher last season, so the assessor is definitely giving him a chance. Trip and ground suit.
Sole success was on heavy at Taunton last year, but has run with credit on a sound surface too. Blinkers applied for the first time today and ran well when runner-up in first-time cheek pieces previously, On a winning mark and should be competitive.
Relishes two miles and a sound surface, twice winning off an 8lb higher mark when that has been the case, so this trip may again prove his undoing.
Forecasts
Wilberdragon (2/1), Sonny The One (9/2), Huff And Puff (9/2), Ballinvarrig (5/1), Lost Legend (7/1), Mister Grez (14/1), King Of The Wolds (16/1), Ulis De Vassy (50/1)
This is not an easy race to weigh up, with several of the runners having already won from higher marks, though likewise several not having won for some time. We will take a chance on Ballinvarrig to come back to form from what looks to be an attractive mark, with trip and ground apparently ideal for him. Huff And Puff went very well on his return from an absence at Wetherby last time, though it may have been the day to catch him fresh and a 6lb rise will not help matters. Wilberdragon has not yet performed to his potential over fences, but he showed better signs here last time and he should be competing for the frame along with Mister Grez and Sonny The One.
1. Ballinvarrig
2. Huff And Puff
3. Wilberdragon
Prize Money
1st: £6,498.002nd: £1,908.003rd: £954.004th: £477.00
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