14:50 Towcester

Thursday 1 February 2018

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:35

Star Sports Daily Specials Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:51 | Winning time: 6m 46.00s

Basford Ben^b³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 99| D

12/1

Came from an unpromising position to gain an overdue success when dropped to this grade last time. More to do off 7lb higher, but has gone well here in the past and has form off higher marks.

Form: 55P671

Black Narcissus^b1,t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: G Sheehan| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 97| C| DWS

8/1

Has dropped below the mark of her Catterick success a year ago. Has struggled on last two starts but wind surgery suggests there have been issues. Blinkers tried for the first time and a winner on her only previous visit here.

Form: 3P-P3PP

Magical Man^v⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: T E Whelan| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 95| CD

12/1

Won this 12 months ago when conditions were heavy and has again made the most of bottomless conditions to score at Ffos Las. Struggled off this mark last time when errors proved costly, but in less exalted company here.

Form: 145-414

Ambion Lane^b1,t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 94

7/1

Glimmers of ability over hurdles but pulled up on all three starts over fences. Blinkers on for the first time and he could be a surprise package if they make a difference.

Form: PP2-85P

Touch Of Steel^p²²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 89| D

10/1

Sprung a surprise at Catterick a year ago but has been well below that form since. Back to the same mark, but remains hard to fancy.

Form: 5198-7P

Touch Screen³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 88

16/1

Returned to form at Lingfield in November, but was held and unseated rider in two subsequent runs off this handicap mark. May be a little high in the ratings, but this is not the strongest of races.

Form: 33614U

How's My Friend⁵⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: J G Cann| OR: 87| BF| C| D

5/1

Has one win and two places from four starts here. Arrives in form and on a workable mark with top claimer on board.

Form: 52-P622

Big Time Frank¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: A Thornton| T: P Gundry| OR: 87

50/1

Has the size and scope to improve for the switch to chasing. No evident improvement last month, but down in grade and significantly lower in the weights.

Form: 3P063P

Cheat The Cheater^p,t³²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 81| CD

33/1

Beat Basford Ben in this two years ago but was clearly held when falling on his repeat mission in 2017. Recent signs are not promising and he looks a risk at present.

Form: 37U5-UP

Bobonyx^v²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: D L Williams| OR: 79

8/1

Yet to win in 24 attempts but has gone close in better grade on his last two starts. Suited to forcing tactics and bottomless ground, therefore one to go on the shortlist off his light weight.

Form: 32P-522

Snowball³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: N de Boinville| T: D W P Arbuthnot| OR: 76| CD

12/1

Has checked out early on his last couple of starts but respected as a C&D winner a year ago off an identical mark. Ground dependant as he requires testing, but not "sticky", conditions.

Form: 1P-44P7

Mazurati⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁵⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 73| D

8/1

His second chasing start actually showed some promise when he finished third at Doncaster in December. Failed to build on that run last time at Southwell though and reasserted the theory that he's unreliable.

Form: U1-4P3P

Try It Sometime^b,t⁶⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: S Bowen| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 73| D

9/1

A winner off a mark of 95 over hurdles/fences his recent record is rather patchy and he ran no sort of race on his recent return from eight months off. A further two months on the sidelines makes him hard to recommend.

Form: 29556-P

Over My Head^t²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 72| D

16/1

Losing run now dates back to December 2013 and ran well from out of the handicap to chase home Basford Ben last month. Closely matched with that rival, but others remain more appealing.

Form: 5263-24

Forecasts

How's My Friend (5/1), Ambion Lane (7/1), Bobonyx (8/1), Black Narcissus (8/1), Mazurati (8/1), Try It Sometime (9/1), Touch Of Steel (10/1), Snowball (12/1), Magical Man (12/1), Basford Ben (12/1), Over My Head (16/1), Touch Screen (16/1), Cheat The Cheater (33/1), Big Time Frank (50/1)

Two previous winners of this Magical Man and Cheat The Cheater make the lineup. The latter has lost his way of late, but Magical Man will have conditions to suit and will appreciate the drop in grade having run poorly last time. How's My Friend, Basford Ben and Snowball go well here and have to be respected, but BOBONYX makes most appeal. The eight-year-old has gone well in two better races than this lately and his ability to stay beyond three miles will stand him well on this circuit.