14:25 Hexham

Wednesday 21 November 2018

All12:5013:2013:5014:2514:5515:30

John Smiths Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 9m 14.28s

Tickenwolf^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 0-0| J: Billy Garritty⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 118| C

11/2

Boasts an excellent overall record at this track (1214113); beaten just ½L in a long-distance hurdle at Sedgefield latest (3m3f); reasonable chance if staying this marathon trip.

Form: 164632

Kilcullen Flem^p²⁰⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 0-0| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 117| CD

5/2

Just 2lb higher than when making all to score in deep ground over C&D in March; ended last season with a solid run at Punchestown (3m6f, soft); could be taken on for the lead by Scotswell.

Form: 4/1P134-

Georges Conn¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 0-0| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 116

11/1

1-33 over fences (winner of a 2m5f Beginners Chase at Sligo in September); has shown some reasonable form in soft ground staying chases in Ireland in the past; interesting jockey booking.

Form: 521P30

Little Bruce¹²

Age: 14| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: P A Kirby| C

Form: 3081-41

Battle Dust^p²⁰¹

Age: 9| Weight: 0-0| J: Conor Shoemark| T: A Ralph| OR: 113

9/2

Capable performer in Hunter Chases for Philip Rowley - disqualified (rider weighed in 12lbs light) after winning over 4m at Cheltenham in May; 2-11 under rules; stamina proven.

Form: 12121-D

Crank Em Up¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 0-0| J: J Kington| T: S G West| OR: 111

12/1

Seemed to lose his way for previous handler David Dennis (sold for £7,000 in May); stays 3m+ on soft/heavy ground; fair third (beaten over 5L) on stable/seasonal debut (over hurdles) at Sedgefield 13-days ago.

Form: 124PP-3

Bright Prospect²⁷

Age: 17| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: Mrs J Stephen

Form: P2/215-5

Scotswell²⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 0-0| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: Mrs H O Graham| OR: 110

20/1

Not won since April 2017 and age is slowly showing signs of catching up with this admirable veteran. Bold front-runner who is slipping in the weights but has plenty to prove at present.

Form: 1/7P7-58

Amilliontimes^t²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 0-0| J: B S Hughes| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 108

12/1

Now rated 3lb lower than when notching the final leg of a four-timer in 2016 (2m5f Carlisle); rallying when a runner-up over 3m2f at Kelso in May, so nothing to lose by trying out this extreme trip.

Form: 575435

Total Assets²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 0-0| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁷⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 106

13/2

Ended last season high in the weights over hurdles and was switched to fences (far less proficient) as a result; her recent Carlisle form (3m2f) is closely associated with Amilliontimes; others preferred.

Form: 32-8306

Chanceiton^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 0-0| J: Mr Cameron Wadge⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 97

5/1

Probably a better horse over hurdles than over fences, but unlikely to be found wanting in the stamina department and has far fewer miles on the clock than many of these runners; of interest off a lightweight under a 7lb claimer.

Form: 62U313

Apache Pilot^p,t²³

Age: 10| Weight: 0-0| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 95| C

20/1

Hexham regular with form figures here since early 2017 reading 1,2,6,3,3,1, 4; best on a sound surface (good) so wouldn't be wanting too much rain; largely unproven beyond 3m.

Form: R-31346

Alto Des Mottes^b¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 0-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: H Hogarth| OR: 90| C

10/1

Competes from just outside of the handicap after a hurdles pipe-opener (2m7f+) here 12-days ago; tired late on when beaten just ½L by Lackamon in the 2016 North Yorkshire Grand National (3m6f Catterick); risky.

Form: 5P3-680

Dontminddboys²¹¹

Age: 17| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: R Dickin

Form: 13121P-

Cruising Bye⁶⁵

Age: 20| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: P & M Bowen

Form: 322-215

Charlie Snow Angel³⁹

Age: 17| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: Miss S E Forster

Form: 1P31-P5

Forecasts

Kilcullen Flem (5/2), Battle Dust (9/2), Chanceiton (5/1), Tickenwolf (11/2), Total Assets (13/2), Alto Des Mottes (10/1), Georges Conn (11/1), Crank Em Up (12/1), Amilliontimes (12/1), Scotswell (20/1), Apache Pilot (20/1)

March C&D winner Kilcullen Flem has been here and got the t-shirt so to speak but the worry today is that he's likely to be taken on for the lead by the veteran Scotswell and that is almost certain to make him vulnerable late in the race. Both the Irish raider Georges Conn and the former Hunter Chaser Battle Dust should prove capable of seeing out this searching test of stamina. However, pardoning the pun a chance is taken on the lightly-weighted and lightly-raced chaser CHANCEITON. He competes off the back of some solid recent hurdles efforts, including when a staying on third under 7lb claimer Cameron Wadge earlier this month.