13:55 Exeter

Sunday 26 November 2017

All12:5513:2513:5514:2514:5515:2515:55

Read Noel Fehily At 188Bet Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 6m 40.8s

Lord Ballim^h,t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 127

16/1

Four-time winner last term, including 2m4f handicap chases at Carlisle and Perth in April. Was given a tough assignment at Cheltenham last month on reappearance and duly struggled, this is more realistic.

Form: 11U1-60

Swincombe Scorchio^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Gundry| OR: 123| D

17/2

Easy winner at Chepstow in March on handicap bow over just shy of 3m (soft), raised 15lb for that and unable to cope next time. Badly out of sorts over C&D on reappearance 19 days ago and has a bit to prove now.

Form: 54214-P

Goohar^p³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly| OR: 120

12/1

Is rated 4lb above previous win-mark and form since hasn't suggested his turn is coming again. Handles testing ground, but was in trouble some way out on reappearance at Carlisle (3m2f, heavy) last month.

Form: U2153-9

Castarnie^p¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: R Walford| OR: 120| CD

2/1

Ended last term with impressive Hereford win (3m1f, soft) in March and went out on his sword in reappearance over this C&D 19 days ago off a 9lb higher mark, just settling for second. Up another 2lb here but could be more to come.

Form: P2PF1-2

Umberto D'olivate³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 119| CD

5/1

Likes this C&D, as he showed when beating Castarnie by 15L here on New Year's Day. All four runs since have been poor however, including a 51L defeat over this C&D on reappearance last month and hard to trust as such.

Form: 71U74-7

You Say What^p,t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 114| C| D

9/4

Has only had four starts over fences and, while yet to get off the mark, showed up well for a long way over C&D on first outing for 212 days earlier in the month. Rating has slipped 18lb from opening mark, one to pay attention to in betting.

Form: 3/0PP7-5

Themanfrom Minella^b1,t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁷⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 113| CD

9/1

His only win in this sphere arrived over C&D in March 2016 but hasn't threatened to repeat it since. Failed to complete previous four starts over fences and first-time blinkers will need to have a dramatic effect.

Form: 2PU2-PP

Non-Runners

According To Harry¹⁶⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: Nicky Martin J: T J O'Brien

Only Gorgeous¹⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: Mrs S Gardner J: Lucy Gardner

Forecasts

Castarnie (2/1), You Say What (9/4), According To Harry (9/2), Umberto D'olivate (5/1), Only Gorgeous (13/2), Swincombe Scorchio (17/2), Themanfrom Minella (9/1), Goohar (12/1), Lord Ballim (16/1)

CASTARNIE returned from a layoff with a really strong effort over C&D, just having to settle for second in the dying strides. Up another 2lb, he could be capable of regaining the winning thread with his fitness boosted from that effort. You Say What was behind him there but should close the gap being 6lb better off now. Lord Ballim has an easier task now than at Cheltenham and could go well while Only Gorgeous cannot be ruled out with any degree of certainty.