16:45 Kempton

Sunday 21 October 2018

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1016:4517:15

Matchbook Casino Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 6m 3.60s

Midnight Monty^t¹⁹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 116WS

9/2

A hurdles winner for his former yard he started his chasing career in good style with four placed efforts before being pulled up when last seen (dropped away quickly). Now returns after a break on the back of some wind surgery off a workable mark.

Form: 42223P-

Accord^p,h,t1¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽⁵⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 112| D

20/1

Well fancied when making a winning chasing debut just over a year ago he's been hard to catch right since. Cheekpieces and hood tried in an effort to provide some spark last time and now has a tongue-tie added also; best watched for now.

Form: 966-2P3

Elkstone^h²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 112| BF

16/1

Sort that is was very hard to win with although he finally broke his duck at Market Rasen in July and managed to follow up at Stratford in August. Found a 10lb rise in the weights too much last time out and looks held off the same mark here.

Form: 2P1216

Fly Home Harry^p,t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 110| D

16/1

Has a profile that has more troughs than peaks but has won twice for current connections and looked to need the race on his recent return to action. Hard to know what to expect now but has run well second run back from a break before.

Form: P18P-47

Strumble Head^b,t¹⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr Peter Bryan⁽⁷⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 110| D

20/1

Not the most straightforward and now in the veteran stage although he did manage to win back-to-back hunter chase contests in the spring. Far from at his best since returning to handicaps; tongue tie now added to usual blinkers.

Form: 1-1P37P

One Of Us^p1¹⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 108| D

9/4

Given a very positive ride switched to fences (fair winning hurdler) when finishing 5th at Uttoxeter in May (big-field handicap). Just did a little too much on that occasion and now tried in first-time cheekpieces; dangerous with a soft lead.

Form: 43/410-5

Closest Friend^t⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: J M Quinlan| T: J M P Eustace| OR: 104

10/1

Yet to win over fences (0/7; is a winning hurdler) but showed that he still has some ability when taking the runner-up slot when last seen at Market Rasen off a reduced mark. Same mark here and a repeat of that performance puts him in the mix.

Form: 32P/4P2

Baron Du Plessis¹⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: Ian Williams| OR: 102| BF

15/8

Has shaped better than the result on a few occasions over fences although his finishing effort has left a little to be desired at times. Now back from a break but may well need this run and other present more solid options.

Form: 5/52337-

Forecasts

Baron Du Plessis (15/8), One Of Us (9/4), Midnight Monty (9/2), Closest Friend (10/1), Elkstone (16/1), Fly Home Harry (16/1), Strumble Head (20/1), Accord (20/1)

One or two in this that can be marked down as inconsistent and it may pay to side with ONE OF US who may benefit from a slightly less positive ride than he got on his chasing debut at Uttoxeter where he shaped well in a big field. Elkstone and Baron Du Plessis are two protagonists that are well versed in flattering to deceive and Midnight Monty makes more appeal than that pair returning from a break and wind surgery. Closest Friend is quite nicely handicapped on his old form and may well be able to make the frame again after a promising effort when last seen.