16:20 Huntingdon

Tuesday 16 October 2018

All14:1014:4515:1515:4516:2016:50

Brampton Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 6m 2.9s

Desert Retreat^b,t⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr James King⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs L Hill| OR: 107| D

8/1

Still a maiden under rules (0-15), but stays well and has produced some creditable efforts over hurdles (mainly for Philip Hobbs); 0-2 over fences under rules, finished 11L third to Mercers Court (3m2f) at Fontwell in August.

Form: 431253

Hoke Colburn^p,t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: D A Jacob| T: B Barr| OR: 106

14/1

Runner up at odds of 50/1 on his second chasing start at Worcester (2m7f, good) in August (beaten 11L), but hasn't appeared to be the most resolute of characters since, including when placed in a selling hurdle latest.

Form: P-77253

Foundation Man⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 105

11/1

Hasn't won since December 2016 (2m3f, good), so has slipped right back down the weights to what in theory is an attractive mark; not in great shape over the summer months and wouldn't want any more rain; risky.

Form: 2-35974

Golden Investment^p,h,t¹³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 105| DWS

6/1

Won just once in 17 starts over fences (3m at Wetherby in November 2017); easing in the weights, and has had wind surgery since competing at Bangor in June, so are both possible reasons for any forthcoming improvement; wears a range of headgear.

Form: 4UF4-B7

Troika Steppes^p1⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: C Brace⁽¹⁰⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 105

10/1

Lost his way completely since winning at Cheltenham (3m1f) in October 2016, and produced another laboured effort when switched to hurdles at Worcester last week; cheekpieces now applied.

Form: UFP/P07

Copperfacejack^t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: G Sheehan| T: P R Webber| OR: 103| D

7/2

It took the guile of Richard Johnson in the saddle to break the duck at the 21st attempt at Towcester (3m) last October, but he followed up for this rider at Taunton a few weeks later (made all); much more uninspiring of late.

Form: 132-45P

Midnight Gem³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Paul O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 90| C

8/1

1-30 (0-12 over fences); 9lb lower than when finishing just over 6L third to Orchestrated at Worcester (2m7f, good) in July, but lost all enthusiasm with Charlie Longsdon thereafter, so badly needs this change of scenery to work.

Form: 353595

Mister Mister²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: D L Williams| OR: 86| D

8/1

Worcester hurdles winner (2m7f) in September 2017; has achieved little of note in seven starts over fences, but has dropped 9lb in the weights since introduced to handicap company in August.

Form: 446F48

Some Finish^p¹⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: J M Quinlan| T: R Dickin| OR: 82| D

25/1

A ground versatile four-time winner over fences; nowhere near his best in the first half of 2018, weakening tamely (after leading) in a 3m1f hurdle here in May; fresh from a summer break, but still 2lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 15P43-6

That's The Deal¹⁷

Age: 14| Weight: 10-0| J: S Bowen| T: J R Cornwall| OR: 77| CD

12/1

Veteran; nine-time winner in 96 starts; very game 9L winner of this race in 2017 (25/1); struggling badly of late and not the force of old hence the rapid slide in the weights.

Form: 7-35589

Onurbike¹⁷⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: J G O'Neill| OR: 75| BF

25/1

12-race maiden (0-9 over fences); regularly ridden by this 7lb claimer, but difficult to consider on disadvantageous terms from out of the weights.

Form: P92224-

Rogue Dancer^p1,t⁵³⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 10-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Mrs L Hill| OR: 75| D

12/1

Stablemate of Desert Retreat; 1-17 under rules and off the track since April 2017 (536 days); cheekpieces applied; unlikely candidate from out of the weights at the ripe old age of 13.

Form: 3226U3/

Non-Runners

Whin Park¹⁵⁹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: B Pauling J: N de Boinville

Forecasts

Copperfacejack (7/2), Whin Park (11/2), Golden Investment (6/1), Midnight Gem (8/1), Mister Mister (8/1), Desert Retreat (8/1), Troika Steppes (10/1), Foundation Man (11/1), Rogue Dancer (12/1), That's The Deal (12/1), Hoke Colburn (14/1), Some Finish (25/1), Onurbike (25/1)

Not a strong contest, so an excellent winning opportunity for one set of connections. Copperfacejack has been under-performing of late, but could prove competitive if granted a soft lead under Gavin Sheehan, whilst Whin Park holds definite place claims despite being a nine-race rules maiden. Foundation Man is theoretically well treated on past form, but comes with a wealth warning attached, so a slightly less risky option is GOLDEN INVESTMENT. Recent wind surgery coupled with an ease in the weights can help propel the Donald McCain-trained 9yo back into the winners enclosure for the first time since scoring over 3m at Wetherby in November 2017.