15:25 Leicester
Thursday 11 January 2018
All12:4513:1513:4514:2014:5015:25
Chieftain Handicap Hurdle
- 4YO plus  |  Class 3  |  1m 7f 113y  |  Heavy  |  12 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 15:25Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 4m 3.2s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Fair hurdler on his day when he has a decent pace to aim at. Trip and ground are fine for return to hurdling and top claimer has been secured.
Impressive winner of two races at Worcester in October but reportedly failed to handle softer ground on his handicap debut. It would have been the same story last time and will probably be so again here.
His last victory came here in December 2016 in similar grade and off an identical mark. Appeared to be running into form at Haydock and looks sure to be in the thick of things again.
Has shown some promise in novice company and ran better than his final position suggests at Kempton on Boxing Day. Drops 3lb in the weights today, but may need to fall a bit further still.
Showed a good attitude when rallying to come back and score at Uttoxeter in November. Fancied to follow up a month later, but paid the price for a lack of concentration. Remains on a reasonable mark and stable are going well.
Scored for this yard last winter and looked set to add to that tally before taking a heavy fall in November. Has been ridden with more restraint since and has failed to figure. Stable in better form now and the jockey booking takes the eye.
A change of tactics and softer ground reaped dividends last time and there is certainly scope for more to come from this well-bred individual. Up in class and 7lb higher in the weights, but not one to dismiss lightly.
Closely matched with Balgemmois on running here a month ago. Well supported that day but found the winner too good and too game. Looks capable of scoring soon, but as a 2m2f Pontefract winner he may want further at this level.
Wide margin winner at Fakenham a year ago and has found life tougher in handicaps since. Has looked a shade too high in the weights and that remains the case here.
Had a stiff task at the weights when beaten in a seller here last time. That form has been let down since and this represents a much sterner test.
His three victories have all come in lower grades but he has shaped well at this level in the past. Usually produces his best from around this mark and he will be better for his recent return. Stable had a double on Wednesday.
Forecasts
Balgemmois (11/2), Wind Place And Sho (13/2), Du Soleil (7/1), Shanroe Saint (8/1), Sleepy Haven (9/1), Sword Of Fate (10/1), Hollywood All Star (12/1), Sporty Yankee (16/1), Capitoul (16/1), Chieftain's Choice (20/1), Iconic Sky (25/1)
Balgemmois and Wind Place and Sho fought out the finish here last month and both can be expected to fare well, despite taking on stronger opposition. The former is out of a useful French mare and may have more scope for improvement. Another French-bred who will relish conditions is Du Soleil who has heavily backed to follow up his Uttoxeter success before coming down early at Haydock. Sleepy Haven has plenty in his favour, but the vote goes to HOLLYWOOD ALL STAR who represents a sporting play at the forecast odds. Some of his best performances have come when the handicapper has dropped him to marks in the region of today's and when conditions have been soft. The yard had a double at Ludlow yesterday and his good young rider's claim has him receiving plenty of weight. A recent spin at Plumpton should have him straight for this and there are few horses with cases this strong who go off at the predicted odds.
- Hollywood All Star
- Sleepy Haven
- Balgemmois
Prize Money
1st: £6,438.002nd: £1,912.003rd: £956.004th: £476.005th: £350.006th: £350.007th: £350.008th: £350.00
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