13:40 Wincanton

Saturday 6 January 2018

All13:0513:4014:1014:4015:1515:45

Smarkets Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 7m 24.08s

Cucklington^b,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-3| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 106| CD

11/4

Has improved markedly to not finish out of the first three in his last five starts. Will appreciate this step back up in trip after a probably insufficient 2m7f last time out and ran creditably off his revised rating there.

Form: U2-2113

Crank Em Up^b1¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-3| J: David Bass| T: David Dennis| OR: 106| BF

7/1

Never travelling when pulled-up at Uttoxeter last time but returned lame that day so that run can be forgive. Major claims if recovered from that given the promise he showed at Wetherby on his penultimate start. Blinkers on.

Form: 565-53P

Talk Of The South¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: James Best| T: P Henderson| OR: 101| BF| D

9/2

Maiden over fences who hasn't been at his best recently, however that only tells part of the story as he would be very well treated here if able to show anything like his best form.

Form: P-3P3U3

Dancing Conquest¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁷⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 100

33/1

Lightly-raced maiden who makes her handicap debut here. Needs improvement on what she showed in novice company, particularly off this opening mark.

Form: 6/544-4

Ambion Lane^t,v²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 100

9/2

10 race maiden but is fairly lightly-raced for his age, and having regained some confidence over hurdles following some poor performances over fences, he can give a better account of himself on his return to chasing.

Form: 0PP2-85

Gowell^t1³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Kevin Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 91

20/1

Has shaped as if this step up in trip will probably suit in the past, and has hinted at ability, especially in more testing conditions, but still has too many questions to answer in a first-time tongue strap.

Form: 3P-5938

Ulva Ferry³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: David Noonan| T: C Gordon| OR: 91

20/1

Well-beaten on all four starts so far, including on chasing debut last time. Down 5lb but may well need more assistance from the handicapper than that.

Form: 60-05

Goosen Maverick²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: J G Cann| OR: 86| BF| D

9/2

Disappointing favourite when pulled-up at Southwell last time out. Had previously looked highly promising as a handicap chaser but was never really travelling there. Every chance that wasn't his true running.

Form: 65-431P

Bobonyx²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: D L Williams| OR: 73

14/1

Yet to get off the mark. Has shown he is capable of running into a place when given the opportunity but yet to suggest he has the ability to win a handicap at this level.

Form: 332P-52

Non-Runners

Goodnightirene⁶

Weight: 10-0| Age: 8

T: Mrs L J Young J: Tom Cheesman

Forecasts

Cucklington (11/4), Goosen Maverick (9/2), Ambion Lane (9/2), Talk Of The South (9/2), Crank Em Up (7/1), Bobonyx (14/1), Gowell (20/1), Ulva Ferry (20/1), Dancing Conquest (33/1), Goodnightirene (33/1)

Though it was difficult to be enthused by his performance at Southwell last time, it may be worth sticking with GOOSEN MAVERICK. This gelding looked a nice prospect as a chaser prior to disappointing there (he may have finished fourth if not being pulled up due to a mistake late on), and clearly wasn't himself that day. He is taken to get back to winning ways here, ahead of the improving Cucklington and Crank Em Up, another who can possibly be forgiven a poor run last time.