Woodhurst Construction 'Confined' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 5m 10.90s

A Good Skin²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr N George⁽⁷⁾| T: T R George| OR: 121

5/2

Twice ran respectably at Cheltenham festivals over fences and dangerously well handicapped after more than two-year drought. Lost way earlier in year and may have needed recent Carlisle run off a break. Dramatically down in trip this time.

Form: 905-248

Compadre^h,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Killian Moore⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 118

11/4

Shaping better over hurdles than he did over timber, fair third of 13 last month at Wincanton (2m4f, good) and eased 2lb by assessor since. Could have a race like this in his compass.

Form: 6F3-283

Lord Ben^v²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: D L Williams| OR: 115| D

9/1

Heading towards his teens now, but ran well here over shorter trip this month sporting first-time visor and replication of that effort gives him claims. No win since 2014 however and may be vulnerable to younger legs.

Form: 343202

Go West Young Man³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 115

11/2

Remains a maiden over fences (0-7), with most of his efforts over 3m and further. Drop to 2m2f at Kempton last month brought no better (reluctant to race) and remains a risky betting proposition.

Form: 4242-47

Fort Smith²⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁷⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 109

3/1

Won a handicap chase over this sort of trip at Downpatrick in June 2015 off a mark of 128 for Gordon Elliott. Been round the houses since and joined latest trainer since tame Doncaster run (3m, good to soft) in February. Handicapper has relented.

Form: 7/664P6-

Changing The Guard^p,t³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: F Brennan| OR: 97| C

50/1

Now 11-years-old and signs in two runs over fences/hurdles this autumn that time is catching up. Beaten combined tally of more than 100L in those runs and leap of faith required to see a turnaround.

Form: 358285

Pembroke House^p¹⁸⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: James Banks| T: S-J Davies| OR: 97

18/1

Very consistent sort but finds winning hard (2-33 career record). Has run with credit in seven starts early this year and suspicion that fresh (off 187 days) might be his best chance now.

Form: 3323-25

Forecasts

A Good Skin (5/2), Compadre (11/4), Fort Smith (3/1), Go West Young Man (11/2), Lord Ben (9/1), Pembroke House (18/1), Changing The Guard (50/1)

The veteran Lord Ben ran a fine race over a shorter trip here recently when sporting a first-time visor and cannot be ruled out too hastily, though he us now three years without a win. Fort Smith is debuting for a new yard and must be noted in the betting, with the handicapper having afforded him some useful leeway after a string of poor runs prior to his break. A Good Skin is capable, if this isn't too sharp a trip, while the youngster in the pack, Compadre, has scope for a good run after his chase bow at Wincanton went well. PEMBROKE HOUSE doesn't win often and was poor when last spotted at Taunton in May but he had previously run a string of good races and fresh might be the time to catch him now.