13:30 Ffos Las

Monday 18 December 2017

All12:3013:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:45

Celtic Energy Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 6m 0.7s

Minella Scamp^t³⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118

3/1

Placed twice in four starts over fences for Tony Martin in Ireland, latest at Tramore on New Year's Day over 2m on soft ground when close second. First start for new connections, up in trip.

Form: 7/05272-

Looksnowtlikebrian⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R Johnson| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 116

3/1

Progressed at the rate of a smart horse for the grade over hurdles at the end of last year he shaped well on his chasing debut after 10 months off. Raised 2lb for his initial effort, he appeared to appreciate the 3m trip. Drops in trip now.

Form: 61168-2

Kit Casey^b1⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 114

12/1

Point-to-point winner and victorious on heavy ground in a maiden hurdle at Chepstow (3m, heavy) in March 2016. Lightly raced since and well beaten in both chase starts following a long absence. Down in trip.

Form: 161/5-6P

Alf 'n' Dor^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: James Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 113| C

11/4

Showed some promise on his reappearance (over hurdles) but didn't really build on that returned to fences on his next start (looked an awkward customer). Still looked a little quirky last time out despite travelling well for much of the race.

Form: 34-43U3

Champagne To Go^p⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 110

8/1

Maiden hurdler put up best effort to date on handicap debut in October when upped significantly to 2m5½f (good), though since been pulled up on soft ground at Exeter and conditions here likely to be fairly testing on chase bow.

Form: 3623-2P

Sutter's Mill²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 108

9/1

Good effort over this sort of trip at Warwick in October on return from a short break (2L second of seven) but not built on that in two subsequent outings and questions to answer for now tackling these obstacles for first time.

Form: 1-21278

Cougar's Gold^t¹³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 108| BF

7/1

Bumper winner, defied opening handicap mark to score in good fashion over this sort of trip at Cartmel in July but well held under penalty at Stratford next time. Returns from 137-day break for chase debut.

Form: 10-4415

Corbett Court³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: T E Whelan| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 96

33/1

Unable to score in point-to-points and nothing in form last season over sticks to catch the eye. Well beaten both starts this term, including over 2m (soft) here last month and must improve for switch to fences.

Form: 44P6-06

Forecasts

Alf 'n' Dor (11/4), Looksnowtlikebrian (3/1), Minella Scamp (3/1), Cougar's Gold (7/1), Champagne To Go (8/1), Sutter's Mill (9/1), Kit Casey (12/1), Corbett Court (33/1)

MINELLA SCAMP wasn't beaten far on his final start for Tony Martin in Ireland and, if he's wound up for this return to action, he could get off the mark first time out for new connections. Looksnowtlikebrian ran well on his reappearance at Chepstow, form that looks decent, but this drop back in trip is something of a concern. Alf 'n' Dor isn't reliable bit could go well while Cougar's Gold is also noted on return from a break having won at Cartmel in the summer.