14:30 Ludlow

Wednesday 20 December 2017

All12:2012:5013:2013:5514:3015:0515:35

Tanners Champagne Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 6m 2.1s

Battle Of Shiloh^p1³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 138| C| D

3/1

Irish point-to-point winner who was in cracking form throughout 2016 over hurdles and fences winning his first four starts under Rules. Good comeback run in a race where the slow pace would not have helped, but others may be better handicapped.

Form: 111F0-3

Ballykan^p,t⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 136| D

13/2

Has found life tough in higher grade races since his last victory in August 2016. Has slipped below his last winning mark and is back into a grade where he is 2-4.

Form: 6F4-P30

Thomas Brown^b²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: N P Madden| T: H Fry| OR: 136| D

8/1

Goes well fresh and suited to good ground. Supported last time and going well when unseating his rider. Below his last winning mark and dropped in class to a grade where he is 3-4. Quirky sort but responds well to this rider and hard to dismiss.

Form: 1870-6U

Monbeg Charmer^h,t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 134| CD

7/2

Belied his lack of chasing experience with an excellent round of jumping to beat Marcilhac over C&D last month. The pair are closely matched but both meet potentially better treated individuals this time.

Form: 121P-41

Marcilhac²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 134| CD

9/1

Career shows a zig-zag path and his C&D second to Monbeg Charmer was followed by a lacklustre effort at Ascot. Has scored over C&D so the track clearly brings out the best in him and the jockey booking takes the eye.

Form: 451-P25

Relentless Dreamer^p,t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: James Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 132

5/1

Winner at Taunton last winter and best effort since came over C&D two weeks ago. Stable are without a National Hunt winner since September but he ought to be competitive with a good claimer to offset a 3lb rise.

Form: 7P8-6P2

It's A Gimme^t⁶⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 129

14/1

Third in a good class veterans race at Chepstow in October when noted staying on well. Looks more leniently weighted nowadays but still without a win since July 2014.

Form: 0-52053

Still Believing¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 127| CD

33/1

Registered a fourth course success here in October, but comfortably held by some of these in two further visits.

Form: 2P1177

Will O'The West²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 123

17/2

Inexperienced chaser meeting some seasoned campaigners after a poor round of jumping at Ascot last month. Well handicapped on his hurdling form if the mistakes can be ironed out.

Form: 90F-449

Forecasts

Battle Of Shiloh (3/1), Monbeg Charmer (7/2), Relentless Dreamer (5/1), Ballykan (13/2), Thomas Brown (8/1), Will O'The West (17/2), Marcilhac (9/1), It's A Gimme (14/1), Still Believing (33/1)

The likes of It's A Gimme, Ballykan and THOMAS BROWN appeal as being well treated on historical form. The latter has dropped below his last winning mark and has a good record in this grade. This track has characteristics that could bring out the best in him and he is taken to account for Relentless Dreamer who signalled a return to form last time. Marcilhac goes well here and can turn around recent form with Monbeg Charmer.