14:00 Hereford

Tuesday 16 January 2018

All12:2012:5013:2514:0014:3015:0515:4016:10

Follow myracingtips On Twitter Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 6m 35.80s

The Kings Writ¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: R Woollacott| OR: 105

11/2

Unbeaten in two starts in point-to-points, but fell at the eighth on his rules chasing debut in a controversial race at Bangor earlier in the month. A hard horse to assess for the handicapper.

Form: 840-11F

Baron Du Plessis³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R Johnson| T: Ian Williams| OR: 103

7/2

The winless streak continues (14 and counting), but in all fairness he hasn't done much wrong since switched to chasing. Stays this trip, and was beaten just 1½L over 2m3f at Doncaster latest.

Form: 255-523

Steel Native^h²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: D A Rees| OR: 101

8/1

Climbing in the weights after winning two of his last three starts (chase and a hurdle). Clearly well suited by cut, and interestingly lines up here following the abandonment of the previous meeting earlier in the month (entered).

Form: 6FP151

Dancing Conquest¹⁰

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

80/1

Pulled up on her handicap debut at Wincanton earlier this month (3m1f heavy), she certainly wouldn't appear to be a one with obvious potential, but deserves more time after just six career starts.

Form: 6/544-4P

Minella Style²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: D L Williams| OR: 99

25/1

Out of his depth in a better race on chasing debut at Ludlow in late December (2m4f good to soft), this point-to-point winner could better that effort here, but makes little appeal for win purposes.

Form: 3-56047

Handsome Sam^b,t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr Ed Bailey⁽⁷⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 96

7/1

Made the frame over C&D last month when just under 10L third to Tb Broke Her, and that represented his best effort since his days with Alan King. Needs to prove that he can put another decent run on his CV before making broader appeal.

Form: 4P6-P53

Janes Boutique¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: T Symonds| OR: 95

33/1

No better than a couple of placed efforts in Irish point-to-points during the 2015/16 campaign, but plenty of water has passed under the bridge since then, and we've seen little sign of progress under rules.

Form: 0-574P6

Big Time Frank¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Bryony Le Clerc⁽⁵⁾| T: P Gundry| OR: 92

25/1

A maiden in five starts over fences (point-to-points), and has looked none too sharp since switched to rules racing; admittedly out of her depth in bumpers and novice hurdles.

Form: 3-3P063

Gonnabegood^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 89

11/2

Has progressed nicely enough at a lowly level over hurdles, and has proved his stamina over an extended 2m5f at Exeter. Interesting to see how he handles the mid-season switch to chasing.

Form: 08P-412

Is Love Alive^t⁴⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: David Noonan| T: A Wintle| OR: 85

33/1

Ex Irish-racer who is falling in the weights, but hasn't seen any action since October 2016. An 11 race maiden over fences, he appears to be totally exposed, and is tough to consider unless the market vibes are positive.

Form: U3P535-

Heavenly Promise¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 79

12/1

Has managed to find the frame on a couple of occasions, but remains a maiden (15 starts). Noted as a staying on third at Bangor earlier this month (2m4f), so worth another go over this longer trip.

Form: 55-F5U3

Admiral Blake¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 79| D

50/1

Veteran who has failed to score since January 2014, and hasn't tackled fences since June 2016 (0 from 4 career). Makes little appeal.

Form: 59-0554

Clondaw Rigger^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 78

7/1

Produced a career best effort on his second start over fences (rules) at Uttoxeter on New Years Eve, when beaten 5L by Cailleach Annie (3m heavy). Marginally out of the weights, but no back number if able to reproduce that improved form.

Form: 85-4772

Forecasts

Baron Du Plessis (7/2), The Kings Writ (11/2), Gonnabegood (11/2), Clondaw Rigger (7/1), Handsome Sam (7/1), Steel Native (8/1), Heavenly Promise (12/1), Minella Style (25/1), Big Time Frank (25/1), Is Love Alive (33/1), Janes Boutique (33/1), Admiral Blake (50/1), Dancing Conquest (80/1)

A low grade novices handicap chase, but it's quite possible that a few of these runners will have more to offer, including the difficult to assess dual point winner The Kings Writ. However, he concedes the best part of two stone to the recent Uttoxeter runner up Clondaw Rigger, so there's every chance that the handicapper has taken few chances with the Richard Woollacott trained runner. Gonnabegood switches to chasing mid-season from a fair mark, and that's a slight surprise, as one might expect that he'd have another race or two in him over hurdles from his current mark, but we'll opt to row in with STEEL NATIVE in the very capable hands of James Bowen. This upwardly mobile seven-year-old stays well and handles cut in the ground, and must figure in the frame at the very least from what is still probably a very handy mark.