13:40 Huntingdon

Tuesday 14 November 2017

All13:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:40

Twitter At 188Bet Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 6m 9.7s

Midnight Gem²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Paul O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 106| C

7/1

Won just once in 20 starts, and hasn't looked a natural over fences so far. Folded tamely after leading in a similar contest here last month (2m4f), and looks tough to fancy now upped in trip.

Form: F62-F77

Glengra²⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 105| BF

7/2

Lightly raced under rules, and ran well on his chasing debut at Doncaster in January when beaten 13L by Ypsilanti (2m3f+ good). Failed to back that up next time, but Fakenham doesn't suit every single horse, so possible excuses.

Form: 86/252P-

The Artful Cobbler²⁰⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: P J Brennan| T: H D Daly| OR: 102

7/2

Not cobbled together all that many productive efforts since winning over hurdles at Leicester in February 2016 (2m4f+ heavy). Switches to fences for his seasonal reappearance with a watching brief best advised.

Form: 874U3P-

Firmount Gent^p,t⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 94| D

9/4

Veteran who has improved for the switch to this stable. A winner at Bangor in October (2m1f+ good to soft), he might well have tasted further success latest but for putting down at the last. Hardly bomb-proof, but has obvious claims.

Form: 33513F

Grow Nasa Grow¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Kieron Edgar⁽³⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 87

66/1

Shown nothing in seven starts, and whilst still early days over fences, he offered no encouragement for the future on his chasing debut at Sedgefield earlier in the month.

Form: 58/0-357

Brereton^t¹⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: James Best| T: R Woollacott| OR: 86| BF

14/1

A six race maiden who has been off the track since May. Did okay on deep ground at Wincanton in March (fourth on hurdles handicap debut), but he'll not get those conditions today now switched to fences.

Form: 0/F404-0

Mazurati¹⁹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁷⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 84| D

20/1

A dual point-to-point winner who showed initial minor promise once switched to handicap hurdles, but that progress has slowed, and he certainly doesn't live up to his rather speedy name. Rules chasing debut.

Form: B23U1-4

Silent Man⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: S Bowen| T: T H Weston| OR: 79

15/2

Poor on his chasing debut at Bangor in October (race won by Firmount Gent) and needs to quickly get his act together if to make a chaser. However, is a winner over hurdles (2m7f+ good), so fully proven stamina wise.

Form: P06-18P

The Society Man⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: M C Chapman| OR: 50

100/1

A poor 64 race maiden over fences who requires divine intervention in order to make his mark from so far out of the weights, despite the paucity of opposition on offer.

Form: 56436U

Forecasts

Firmount Gent (9/4), The Artful Cobbler (7/2), Glengra (7/2), Midnight Gem (7/1), Silent Man (15/2), Brereton (14/1), Mazurati (20/1), Grow Nasa Grow (66/1), The Society Man (100/1)

Quite frankly a very uncompetitive contest. Firmount Gent was a rules maiden prior to joining the Skelton's, so fair play to them for managing to turn him around so quickly. His form over shorter trips makes him the horse to beat, but he put down at the last when set to score latest and he could be slightly vulnerable over this longer trip. With Ian Williams enjoying a most productive weekend, a chance is taken on GLENGRA. He has plenty of placed form in point-to-points and ran well on his rules chasing debut at Doncaster before a lacklustre effort at Fakenham. If straight enough on his return to action, he could prove better suited by this more conventional track in an absolutely dire contest.