14:10 Wincanton

Thursday 18 January 2018

All13:1013:4014:1014:4515:2015:55

Higos Insurance Services Somerset National Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 7m 55.50s

Wuff^p,t¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 130

7/1

Difficult to catch right these days but heavy ground usually helps. Disappointing therefore that he was so poor last time and he faces a tough task conceding weight here.

Form: 6515-2P

Rathlin Rose^b¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 130

13/2

Played his part in the Guy Disney fairytale last spring, but has found life tougher in handicaps since. Mark is beginning to fall, but may need to drop further.

Form: 11P-3P6

Dawson City^p¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: A Thornton| T: P Gundry| OR: 128| C

11/2

Had been runner-up five times over fences prior to benefitting from the departure of a smooth travelling leader to score here (3m1f) in March. Limitations exposed since, but this looks easier.

Form: 231P-4P

Court Frontier¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: T J O'Brien| T: Christian Williams| OR: 128| BF

10/1

Came to hand at this point last season when landing a hat-trick in marathons on testing ground. Will be straighter for two runs over hurdles and, having beaten Cyclop 14L when last successful, he has to go on the shortlist.

Form: 11P5-67

Royal Palladium⁷²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 125

7/1

Best form has come when fresh so a two month absence poses the question as to whether that is a long enough break. Happy on soft ground, but not heavy as forecast here.

Form: 5P/1P6-3

Barton Gift^b⁴¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁷⁾| T: J L Spearing| OR: 124| C

33/1

Took a couple of runs to reach his peak last season, but he has not promised much on either run this term and he may be better around Bangor. Has a chance from this mark if there are any signs from the market that he is back to his best.

Form: 161P-4P

Blameitalonmyroots^p1⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 123

9/1

There were question marks against many of the rivals she beat at Kempton in February and the handicapper may have overreacted to that victory. Looks more reasonably treated for this and cheekpieces are fitted.

Form: 3P14-67

Themanfrom Minella^b,t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁷⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 121

9/2

Has improved lately for the fitting of blinkers and won with a lot in hand last time. This is much tougher, but he loves the ground and stays.

Form: U2-PP21

Cyclop^p,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: T E Whelan| T: David Dennis| OR: 120

9/2

Was travelling well when falling four out in this 12 months ago. Remains below his mark that day, despite his success at Market Rasen last time. Hit the front too soon that day and he looks a major player in this.

Form: 624-821

Non-Runners

Twojayslad²⁶⁶

Weight: 10-10| Age: 9

T: Ian Williams J: J E Moore

Forecasts

Themanfrom Minella (9/2), Cyclop (9/2), Dawson City (11/2), Twojayslad (6/1), Rathlin Rose (13/2), Royal Palladium (7/1), Wuff (7/1), Blameitalonmyroots (9/1), Court Frontier (10/1), Barton Gift (33/1)

Themanfrom Minella and Cyclop are recent winners who will once again find conditions to their liking. The latter was going well in this 12 months ago before falling four out and he races from a lower mark this time with his stable in good form. COURT FRONTIER had David Dennis' runner 14L behind when romping home at Huntingdon in the spring and is weighted to confirm the form. Two runs over hurdles should have him ready for this.