12:35 Hereford

Wednesday 29 November 2017

All12:3513:0513:3514:1014:4015:1515:45

Major Philip Verdin Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:37 | Winning time: 3m 59.80s

King's Tempest^p1¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 105| D

3/1

Found little last time despite trainer considering his mark to be favourable. Possible that run may have been needed and he now switches to chasing. Has dropped a further 5lb in the weights with cheekpieces now added and stable in excellent form.

Form: 9P23-37

Burrenbridge Hotel²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 105| D

20/1

Successful point-to-pointer who landed a five-runner maiden hurdle at Chepstow (2m, good-to-firm); stable in form and have an excellent record here; reunited with winning rider and sure to improve for reappearance four weeks ago.

Form: 3F1-7P5

Tikkinthebox^h,t⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 104

16/1

Struggling to put two good runs together at present. Due to produce a decent performance this time and stable have been in better form lately.

Form: 902P2-P

Torhousemuir¹⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: S Thomas| OR: 102

5/1

Appeared to have a lot left in the tank when coming down three out on his last start in May. Remains on the same mark and one to check in the market.

Form: 5F894-F

Sydney De Baune²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 100

9/4

Finally fulfilled debut promise by getting the better of a battle at Chepstow last month. An 11lb reassessment seems harsh but he looks the type to progress, particularly now switched to fences. Drop in trip and quicker ground could be an issue.

Form: 475/90-1

Ring Eye⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: R T Dunne| T: S-J Davies| OR: 94| D

25/1

Lost his way on the Flat during the summer and was in trouble when losing his rider in a Southwell hurdle last time. Makes chasing debut and hard to fancy his chances.

Form: 0338/U

Sage Monkey¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 89

4/1

Landed a weak race at Bangor during the summer and has failed to complete in two of his three starts since.

Form: 231F5U

Emperor Commodos^t,v⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Richard Condon⁽⁷⁾| T: R Mathew| OR: 88

14/1

Finished second in a run of the mill race at Lingfield a year ago at odds of 33/1 . Has been poor since and hard to fancy despite his falling mark.

Form: F564-P6

Norphin¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: L Treadwell| T: J W Mullins| OR: 70

20/1

29-race maiden who was tailed off last of six on latest start. In here from 9lb out of the weights and hard to fancy on current form.

Form: 2675-P6

Forecasts

Sydney De Baune (9/4), King's Tempest (3/1), Sage Monkey (4/1), Torhousemuir (5/1), Emperor Commodos (14/1), Tikkinthebox (16/1), Burrenbridge Hotel (20/1), Norphin (20/1), Ring Eye (25/1)

Sydney De Baume appeals as the type to win races over fences. Such was the improvement shown last time that he can still be considered off an 11lb higher mark. However, this shorter trip around this sharper circuit on faster ground raises serious doubts about his chances. King's Prospect represents an in form trainer and is another to appeal now switching to the chasing ranks. This mark is one his trainer feels is one that he should be able to exploit, however he has disappointed once too often and preference is for BURRENBRIDGE HOTEL. Henry Oliver's horses are running well having had the benefit of their first run back from the summer recess. He spreadeagled a small field at Chepstow over hurdles in the spring and is on an attractive mark judged on that effort. Torhousemuir was travelling like a winner when coming down last time. If the market signals he in none the worse for that mishap and a six month break, then he would have to enter calculations.