13:50 Huntingdon

Tuesday 26 December 2017

All11:4012:1012:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Racing UK Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 5m 12.2s

Bigpipenotobacee³⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: T R George| OR: 117

9/1

Looks the type to take to chasing and having shown promise on his first run back from a break last year over hurdles he was quickly switched to fences. Failed to complete on his debut (showed ability) and now given a second try chasing off a 3lb lower mark.

Form: B93U/4F-

Land League³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Brennan| T: S Edmunds| OR: 114

4/1

Made the most of a decent opportunity to score over hurdles in September but appeared to have been then dealt a harsh mark in handicaps. Showed an aptitude for chasing on his first and second starts and the handicapper is starting to show him some mercy now; 4lb lower than last time out.

Form: 0F-1964

Speedalong^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 113

12/1

Quickly switched to fences after running just once in handicaps over hurdles where his mark looked a harsh one although he goes chasing of the self same mark. Looks as though he'll need some relief from the assessor before he's of interest.

Form: 8/0P42-2

King Cool⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 112

12/1

A winner over hurdles on his second start in that sphere he proved more miss than hit in handicaps in that sphere with his mark looking high enough. The start to his chasing career was poor though (jumped poorly) and will need to do far better here.

Form: U725-50

Bestwork⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 110| D

11/2

Improved in the spring/summer over fences winning three handicaps and seemingly improving at a rate of knots (made all for each win). Shaped as though he was back to that form last time (forced pace; jumped well) but faded quickly and may have his share of temperament.

Form: 151145

Whin Park^b1¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling| OR: 107

12/1

Despite looking as though he would improve in handicaps over hurdles he was handed a mark that looked stiff enough and he failed to find the necessary improvement and looked to regress. Now sent chasing of a similar mark with blinkers on for the first time; jury remains out.

Form: 604-40P

Kincora Fort^t1²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Garner⁽³⁾| T: Noel Williams| OR: 107

4/1

Confirmed some earlier promise to win over hurdles in May 2015 but then disappeared from view for 30 months. Has run well enough on his return in two hurdles outings (still looked rusty last time) and now tongue-tied for the first time on his chase debut; not without a chance.

Form: 2461/46

As You Like⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 103

7/2

A winner off a 6lb higher mark over hurdles in May on his handicap debut in that sphere. He started to become disappointing over hurdles and despite showing promise in two runs over fences his propensity to travel and find little is becoming a worry.

Form: 17975P

Appletree Lane²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: T R Gretton| OR: 93

16/1

Form: 3P/523-4

Forecasts

As You Like (7/2), Kincora Fort (4/1), Land League (4/1), Bestwork (11/2), Bigpipenotobacee (9/1), Whin Park (12/1), Speedalong (12/1), King Cool (12/1), Appletree Lane (16/1)

Bestwork has his quirks but he does jump well and will be dangerous if he can establish and easy lead here despite a mark 8lb above his last winning one when he was in a real purple patch. Speedalong switches to fences quickly but does look to need some help from the handicapper and its top weight BIGPIPENOTOBACEE that makes most appeal dropping 3lb from his last mark having shown some promise on his chase debut despite not completing. Land League comes from a stable in form and now the handicapper is giving him a chance he could find himself having a chance to open his account over fences. As You Like has also been given a chance by the assessor but his finishing effort appears to leave a lot to be desired of late.