12:20 Wetherby

Saturday 4 November 2017

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:45

Racing UK In Glorious HD Handicap Chase (Qualifier)

Off time: 12:20 | Winning time: 6m 38.5s

Tickenwolf¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Finian O'Toole⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 122| C| D

20/1

Not hard pressed to win a handicap chase at Hexham two starts ago, but ran out and unseated his rider at Market Rasen last time. Talented, but obviously comes with risks.

Form: P-44U1R

Bells Of Ailsworth^t¹⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 122

14/1

Won twice at Taunton last season, but has failed to get round in two of his six starts over fences, including when last seen at Cheltenham in April. Can pose a threat if his jumping holds up.

Form: 91U13F-

Delgany Demon²³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King| OR: 120| D

7/2

Still looking for his first victory over fences after 11 attempts, but has been placed six times, occasionally in decent company. Will probably end his drought at some stage, but has to defy a high enough mark and a lengthy lay-off.

Form: P27426-

Krackatoa King^v²²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 120| D

7/2

Odds-on when wining a weak three-runner contest at Warwick in March (main market rival pulled up), but had previously been quite consistent and this handicap mark is not beyond his powers. Chance with the champion on board.

Form: 2/42331-

Zanstra^b1,t1³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 119

10/1

Placed on three of his six starts over fences, but he has been well beaten on the last two of them and a recent outing over hurdles was not encouraging. Needs to turn things round in blinkers and a tongue tie for the first time.

Form: 2F236-7

Highway Storm¹⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R T Dunne| T: R Hobson| OR: 118| D

9/2

Won a novices' handicap chase for Rebecca Curtis before joining current yard for whom he has had two runs, the latest when a close third of seven at Uttoxeter in June. One to consider off the same handicap mark.

Form: 1/31P-03

Nortonthorpelegend⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Danny Cook| T: R Menzies| OR: 116| D

14/1

Fair strike rate of four wins from 12 outings over fences, but he has struggled on his last three starts and has dropped back down the weights to a mark only 3lb higher than when last successful. Chance if bouncing back to form.

Form: 11F4P-8

Daklondike^p1,t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 114| D

5/1

Won his only point-to-point race and showed ability in four hurdles outings. Only a fair fourth of seven on his chasing debut at Newton Abbot and will need to step forward off 3lb lower. Perhaps the first-time cheekpieces will work their magic.

Form: 43164-4

Purcell's Bridge^h²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr D Delahunt⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 114| C| D

25/1

Experienced campaigner who has won thee times over fences but was pulled up on his return from a break at Hexham last month. Down 1lb and is likely to strip fitter.

Form: 62/714-P

Basford Ben^p¹³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: David Noonan| T: J Candlish| OR: 98| C

20/1

Latest of his six victories came in a handicap chase at Carlisle in May, last year. He is 8lb lower, so is of obvious interest from a handicapping perspective. On the downside, his last three displays have been poor.

Form: 783-55P

Forecasts

Krackatoa King (7/2), Delgany Demon (7/2), Highway Storm (9/2), Daklondike (5/1), Zanstra (10/1), Bells Of Ailsworth (14/1), Nortonthorpelegend (14/1), Basford Ben (20/1), Tickenwolf (20/1), Purcell's Bridge (25/1)

Point-to-point winner Daklondike can surely do better for his leading connections, but he did not impress on his chasing debut. Basford Ben and Nortonthorpelegend are well handicapped if returning to form, but this may be fought out by BELLS OF AILSWORTH and Krackatoa King, who are feasibly weighted and were in decent form when last seen. The selection may have a little more room for improvement, while Highway Storm, Tickenwolf and Zanstra cannot be ruled out with any confidence.