15:50 Ffos Las
Sunday 19 February 2017
All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:50
Heineken Handicap Chase
- 5YO plus | Class 3 | 2m 7f 177y | Soft | 8 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 6m 27.1s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Appears to be in the grip of the handicapper after three chase victories last season. His mark has risen from 112 in December 2015 to 132 (current). Pulled up in both starts this winter, albeit on truly desperate ground last time at Hereford. Wears blinkers for the first time.
Fairly useful chaser who has won from marks significantly higher than this one in the past, and is becoming more attractively handicapped. Finished a fair third (raised 1lb) behind Brandon Hill last time at Newbury over this sort of trip on soft ground, so a likely contender on that showing.
Adores this track, winning twice here over hurdles, and twice more over fences. His career highlight came when winning the West Wales National over 3m4f here in attritional conditions in January 2015. Has become more of an in and out performer since, but this is far easier than the Classic Chase at Warwick, and he's never a horse to write off easily at this track.
Appears to be firmly on the upgrade over fences, and after landing a C&D beginners chase in November 2016, he wasn't disgraced when fourth at Chepstow over Christmas, before being untroubled by dropping back in trip late last month to land another novices chase at Southwell. Versatile in terms of trip, and drying ground wouldn't be a concern in regular tongue tie and visor.
Runner up from a 1lb lower mark in this race in 2016 to Berea Boru (and again to that rival at Chepstow a month later), this Kayf Tara gelding seems to have had a return mission on the agenda for quite a while. He's raced over hurdles the past twice (fifth of eight to the highly progressive Ami Debois last time at Wetherby) whilst his chase mark has steadily fallen. Contender.
Finished three places behind Little Jon when sixth at Newbury on his most recent start, but was successful from a 2lb higher mark over C&D as recently as March 2016. Drying ground is unlikely to hinder, and with a hurdles success at this track (February 2014), has a 66% strike rate at Ffos Las.
Won around the tight circuit that is Fakenham in January 2016, before finding life tough in the Eider at Newcastle and behind Horatio Hornblower here in March 2016. Has continued in a similar poor vein this winter, and unseated his rider at the sixth in the Sussex National at Plumpton last month.
Likely to have gone very close on his return from a lengthy absence but for unseating his rider at the second last over fences at Ludlow in October 2016, with chase mark hit by a 5lb rise. Has made the most of a lower hurdles mark since winning at Exeter in December, and a runner up at Fakenham on New Years Day. Likely to go well with stamina proven back over fences.
Non-Runners
6
Union Jack D'ycy39
Weight: 11-5| Age: 9
T: D Faulkner J: Alan Johns
NR
Forecasts
Pearl Swan (5/2), Bob Ford (9/2), Little Jon (9/2), Horatio Hornblower (5/1), Abbeygrey (9/1), Kayf Moss (11/1), Waldorf Salad (12/1), Union Jack D'ycy (12/1), Beforeall (20/1)
Plenty of Ffos Las regulars line up, none more so than the mud loving West Wales National winner of 2015 Bob Ford. Pearl Swan won a C&D beginners chase in November, and appears to be a chaser on the upgrade, but life will be tougher against some gnarly battle hardened rivals in this stronger handicap. KAYF MOSS appears to have been brought along steadily over hurdles this winter with this race (and perhaps another at Chepstow next month) in mind, and he is a tentative selection to go one better than when runner up to Berea Boru in this very contest in 2016.
1. Kayf Moss
2. Horatio Hornblower
3. Pearl Swan
Prize Money
1st: £9,747.002nd: £2,862.003rd: £1,431.004th: £716.00
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