14:00 Market Rasen

Thursday 22 November 2018

All12:2512:5513:2514:0014:3515:0515:40

Pertemps Education Network Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 5m 44.13s

Drovers Lane²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Adrian Heskin| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 135

11/4

Dual hurdles winner in the summer (on good) and scored easily on his chase debut at Hereford (3m1f, good to firm) in October. A jumping blunder put paid to his chance when going well enough last time. Not ruled out.

Form: 411217

Kayf Blanco²¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Humphries⁽⁷⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 130

16/1

Nine-race maiden over fences, but placed on six occasions. Has the ability to get involved again from this mark, but more needed for the win on his first start since April.

Form: 323226-

First Drift²⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁵⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 130| BF| C

33/1

Useful novice hurdler last season, winning at Doncaster and following up here under a penalty (2m½f, soft) in March. Initial mark looks stiff for this chase debut, but open to improvement now upped in trip. Interesting.

Form: 5/45112-

Curious Carlos^t⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 130

25/1

Won novice chases at Sedgefield and Perth (good) at around 2m in the spring. Form so far over similar trips hints at stamina doubts, and looks exposed from this mark. Bit to prove.

Form: 5-11594

Lisdoonvarna Lad¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 129

7/1

Ready winner of a Wetherby novice event (2m, soft) last Christmas and was placed in a Haydock Grade 2 next time. Disappointed when last of four on recent chase debut. Has ability, but also a bit to prove now.

Form: 28135-4

Arctic Gold²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128

13/2

Well handicapped on the best of his form over both hurdles and fences. Dipped below that at Cheltenham last time, but wasn't beaten far from 3lb higher last December. Very interesting back in this sphere.

Form: F28F-25

Soupy Soups^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 125

7/2

12lb lower than when winning at Uttoxeter in September (2m4f, good). Respectable efforts since and up another 5lb here as a result. More needed, but not ruled out.

Form: F-P4132

Earlshill³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: S Edmunds| OR: 122| D

10/3

Won on his first two starts for this trainer in hurdles at Warwick and Southwell. Pulled up after a poor round of jumping on chase debut at Huntingdon last month. Can't write him off, but plenty to prove now.

Form: 3501-1P

Forecasts

Drovers Lane (11/4), Earlshill (10/3), Soupy Soups (7/2), Arctic Gold (13/2), Lisdoonvarna Lad (7/1), Kayf Blanco (16/1), Curious Carlos (25/1), First Drift (33/1)

Most of the field have questions to answer in one way or another and the solid option looks to be ARCTIC GOLD, who is well treated on his best form and has a decent opportunity here. First Drift is open to improvement and interesting, while Soupy Soups arrives in good form and can again go well. Drovers Lane is another to consider, while Earlshill and Lisdoonvarna Lad have ability, but also a bit to prove after their latest starts.