15:05 Perth

Saturday 18 August 2018

All13:2513:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:4517:25

SPM Scotland Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 4m 52.5s

Clondaw Kaempfer^b,t¹⁰³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 122| BF| DWS

2/1

Useful handicap hurdler at best, three starts over fences so far and in truth a little disappointing that he was beaten at short odds at Ayr last time. Trip and ground fine and obvious chance again, but not one to trust implicitly.

Form: 7/02P8-2

Mount Beckham^p1⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: C Cannon| OR: 118

8/1

Just the one win in 18 starts, has a couple of decent chase efforts to his name (as when third to the useful Bamako Moriviere at Fairyhouse last October) but has burst blood vessels in the past. Not out of it, but clearly comes with risks.

Form: 0/4239-8

Cubomania^t¹⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| OR: 117WS

11/4

Improving hurdler that represents a good trainer/jockey combination here, twice a winner last winter but both those runs on heavy ground. Not bred for fences either, so does have questions to answer.

Form: 801152-

Le Dauphin¹⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Robert Hogg⁽⁷⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 117

33/1

First start for new yard after leaving Nicky Henderson, form became regressive last season and he disappointed too many times. Chase debut here and wasn't always the most fluent over hurdles, so plenty to prove.

Form: P1/056-U

Cool Valley¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: D R Fox| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 107| D

25/1

Point-to-point winner in May but highly tried in three starts under Rules. Hasn't been totally disgraced but handicapper has hardly thrown him in here. Step back up in trip will suit, though.

Form: F-P1344

Trongate¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 105

2/1

Moderate handicap hurdler that's just had the one win in 15 starts, chase debut today and dam was a half-sister to a point-to-point winner, which offers some hope, but others look to have stronger profiles.

Form: 4338-43

Airdrigh^p¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: A E Lynch| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 88

16/1

Looks moderate on what he's achieved so far and hope is that the switch to fences may see him in a better light. Dam is out of a half-sister to a couple of winning pointers, so that could happen, but yard just 5-50 with their chasers here.

Form: 67P4-56

Jackofhearts⁷³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J C McGregor| OR: 72

40/1

Moderate handicap chaser that races from well out of the handicap here, and has little realistic chance of success.

Form: 5654-2P

Forecasts

Trongate (2/1), Clondaw Kaempfer (2/1), Cubomania (11/4), Mount Beckham (8/1), Airdrigh (16/1), Cool Valley (25/1), Le Dauphin (33/1), Jackofhearts (40/1)

Cubomania will be popular for the Elliott/Johnson fans but he's not really bred to be jumping fences and looks opposable. If MOUNT BECKHAM can avoid bursting blood vessels then he might be the one to be with, as this looks an easier task than a few he's faced recently and should have a bit more to come. Clondaw Kaempfer and Le Dauphin would have chances if on song, but neither is to be fully trusted. Maybe Cool Valley could be the one for each-way players.