16:05 Stratford

Tuesday 19 June 2018

All13:5014:2014:5515:3016:0516:4517:20

Bet At racinguk.com Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 5m 9.30s

River Of Intrigue²⁷⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 107

13/2

Former Nicky Henderson inmate who's form tailed off when last seen in the autumn. Isn't on a bad mark based on old form but may well need this run giving weight away all around here.

Form: 7/42356-

Great Lover^b1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 105

33/1

Two pretty lifeless efforts so far over hurdles in handicaps. Mark is falling and goes chasing off a realistic mark with blinkers added for the first time. Needs a rapid upturn in form all the same.

Form: P8450-P

Little Allstar^t⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: James Davies| T: S Thomas| OR: 105

14/1

Well beaten in three starts over hurdles so far but had shown promise in a point-to-point prior to that so no great surprise to see him back over fences for handicap debut. Needs to do much more all the same.

Form: 37774-

Athreeothree^b²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| OR: 104

22/1

Point-to-point winner who's been well beaten in three starts over hurdles so far. Chances are his future very much lies over fences so no surprise to see him straight into this on handicap debut. Step back up in trip should help and better expected

Form: 2F/15-35

Admiral Kid^h,t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 96

33/1

Hasn't shown a great deal over the last year or so over hurdles. Well beaten at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good) on latest start. Dropped another 4lbs for chasing debut but needs to do much more to be involved.

Form: F5/P8-46

Just A Feeling³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 89| D

7/4

Showed the benefit of a break and a wind operation by winning his last two over hurdles and fences last time. Just 6lb higher here and the hat-trick is a distinct possibility having not been with this yard all that long and they took this last year.

Form: 600P-11

Isle Road³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: J Riches| OR: 86

3/1

Not unbacked to get off the mark at Uttoxeter in a conditional event over hurdles last month. 6lb higher here back over fences but needs to show he can build on that last start having been disappointing in this sphere previously.

Form: 2/13P7-1

Diplomatico^t1⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: T Scudamore| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 84WS

16/1

German import who has shown nothing to date in three starts over hurdles. Has had another wind operation since his last run and makes chasing/handicap debut with a tongue-tie added. Lowly mark and market check is very much needed.

Form: P09-

Rule The Ocean¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: M Sheppard| OR: 81

25/1

Former point-to-pointer who returned from a long absence with a modest display over 2m4f at Worcester last month. took a step backwards when dropped in trip last time at the same venue. Back up in trip here but others are readily preferred.

Form: 4623/56

Scrumpy Boy^t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: B Barr| OR: 76

8/1

0/12 over hurdles and very little to get excited about. Mark is on the slide but would need the switch to fences to spark into life to be involved and hard to enthuse at present.

Form: 56P7-55

Free Return^p³⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: S Bowen| T: T H Weston| OR: 70

33/1

Now 0/7 under rules including over fences the last twice. Pulled up over 3m at Bangor latest and chance this drop in trip may suit. Needs to improve all the same but hints that there is some ability there.

Form: 70P56/P-

Non-Runners

Viva Rafa³⁷

Weight: 11-9| Age: 8

T: R T Phillips J: Thomas Bellamy

Forecasts

Just A Feeling (7/4), Isle Road (3/1), Viva Rafa (5/1), River Of Intrigue (13/2), Scrumpy Boy (8/1), Little Allstar (14/1), Diplomatico (16/1), Athreeothree (22/1), Rule The Ocean (25/1), Admiral Kid (33/1), Great Lover (33/1), Free Return (33/1)

A race that you could have several stabs at and not find the winner with several making their chase or handicap debut. Just A Feeling has won her last two and has sound claims of completing the hat-trick for a yard that won this race last year. Isle Road bolted up over hurdles last time and will be a player for sure if he can convert that form over fences. Diplomatico goes chasing off a lowly mark having had wind surgery and would be of major interest should any market support arrive. Slight preference is for VIVA RAFA who has shown improved form of late and may well have won last time but for falling two out.