14:15 Market Rasen

Tuesday 26 December 2017

All12:0512:3513:1013:4514:1514:5015:25

Clugston Lincolnshire National Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:17 | Winning time: 7m 38.40s

Saint John Henry^b,t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: D Pipe| OR: 127

10/1

Best efforts have come in lower grades off lower weights. Has conditions to suit but others make more appeal and yard are 0-22 in past fortnight.

Form: 75P-1P3

Two Smokin Barrels²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: R T Dunne| T: M Scudamore| OR: 125

8/1

Improved last season to win four races over fences. Stays well and suited to testing conditions. Appeared to be running into form last time and a big player here if staying this far.

Form: 1416-92

Boric^p²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 125

9/1

A gritty success in the 3m6f Highlands National in April has been bettered at both Carlisle and in the Durham National. Not disgraced in the Listed Rehearsal Chase and another honest display is anticipated.

Form: 181-224

Strongly Suggested³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Killian Moore⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 124| C

20/1

Useful when races are run to suit his his usual waiting tactics. Best efforts have come on better ground than forecast, so worth checking the market to see how happy connections are.

Form: 586123

Vinegar Hill^t³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: C Poste| T: S Edmunds| OR: 123| C

7/1

5-19 under rules and looked a progressive type when scoring here last time. Jumping was not always fluent, but he is open to improvement and a lot better than when 45L behind Saint John Henry at Chepstow.

Form: 1164-81

Petite Power^t⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 121| BF

8/1

Looked as though he would be winning soon when noted staying at Cheltenham on his return. Jumped less fluently and was soon struggling in first-time cheekpieces at Ludlow last month and they are removed.

Form: 6F44-45

Emerald Rose^p²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: M D Grant| T: J S Smith| OR: 119| C

14/1

Has a 3m soft ground chase win to her name, although arguably better when conditions are not quite as testing. Well beaten in the Bangor mud last time and she probably needs an easier opportunity when conditions are holding.

Form: 844-133

Cyclop^p,t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: T E Whelan| T: David Dennis| OR: 117

7/1

Losing run stretches back two years but he had dropped to a more reasonable mark when runner-up last time. Handicapper has reassessed him and that makes the task of ending his drought that much harder.

Form: F624-82

Lord Heathfield^p²⁸⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 117

25/1

Winning point to pointer who has only recently switched to open company chases under rules, and has acquitted himself well so far. Has his first run of the campaign but won on his reappearance at this point last season.

Form: 26/132F-

Amiral Collonges^p³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: H J Evans| OR: 114

12/1

Has two ways of running but showed his appreciation for a stamina test when landing the Norfolk National in May. Looked ready for this stiffer test when chasing home Vinegar Hill here last time and no forlorn hope.

Form: P3-1PP2

Jepeck¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Alan Johns| T: R Woollacott| OR: 110| D

4/1

Prolific winning pointer who is prone to mistakes who scoped badly on his penultimate start. Survived errors to finish third in a competitive Exeter stamina test last time. Clear chance on that form if you are prepared to watch from behind the sofa.

Form: 21-34P3

Amberjam²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 107

15/2

Fortunate second on first start for this yard. That was a less competitive race than this but it was a step in the right direction. Also engaged 11:40 Huntingdon.

Form: 1/11PP-2

Upbeat Cobbler^p⁶⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly| OR: 105

33/1

Bold jumping front-runner who tends to fold once challenged for the lead. Likely to be pestered by a few in this and passed over as a result.

Form: 1368-37

Forecasts

Jepeck (4/1), Cyclop (7/1), Vinegar Hill (7/1), Amberjam (15/2), Petite Power (8/1), Two Smokin Barrels (8/1), Boric (9/1), Saint John Henry (10/1), Amiral Collonges (12/1), Emerald Rose (14/1), Strongly Suggested (20/1), Lord Heathfield (25/1), Upbeat Cobbler (33/1)

A marathon that has often gone to an improver and JEPECK looks a likely type this year. The ex-pointer has had problems with his jumping and scoped wrong after a poor run on his penultimate start. He survived a couple of errors to finish third in a gruelling race at Exeter last time that looked a lot stronger than this. If jumping just marginally better he can take all the beating. Vinegar Hill is another unexposed chaser who won here last time and may have more to offer, although he is another who needs to tidy up his jumping.Two Smokin Barrels likes to see the mud flying so connections will be hoping conditions remain as advertised, whilst Lord Heathfield won first time out at this stage last season and Amiral Collonges will appreciate the trip.