13:35 Hereford

Wednesday 28 November 2018

All12:3513:0513:3514:0514:3515:0515:40

Visit Sri Lanka Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:36 | Winning time: 4m 10.1s

Omega Springs⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: D L Williams| OR: 107| D

25/1

4lb higher than when winning at Uttoxeter (2m, good) in September; struggled in a stronger race (Class 3) at Wetherby most latterly.

Form: 523615

Le Capricieux²¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 107| D

16/1

Starts the season over fences (a new discipline), and whilst ability undoubtedly lies within (2m Plumpton hurdle winner off a mark of 102), he's actually fallen in two of his last four starts over the smaller obstacles.

Form: 01F3F5-

Shrewd Tactics^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 103

4/1

Likely to have drawn some benefit from his recent comeback run at Ffos Las (2m, heavy) and remains handily weighted based upon a promising chasing debut at Taunton in March 2017.

Form: 79842/5

Asknotwhat^h⁸²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Brendan Powell| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 100

12/1

Fell heavily (booked for third) on his final start for David Bridgwater at Stratford in August 2016; off since, but belatedly returns for chasing debut for new handler Kerry Lee.

Form: 43344F/

Briac⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 99| D

9/2

Stablemate of Lord Fendale; pulled-up on final hurdles start for Mark Pattinson at Plumpton in September; chasing debut for new handler Tim Vaughan.

Form: 6513-3P

Lord Fendale²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: David Noonan| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 98| BF| D

7/1

Stablemate of Briac; slowly inched up the weights over hurdles after finishing runner-up in four of his last five starts, including at Musselburgh (2m, good to firm) latest; chasing debut.

Form: 522322

Mountain Chimes³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 93| BF

6/1

Placed on chasing debut at Bangor (2m1f+) in October and produced a broadly comparable effort next time at Stratford when beaten in excess of 18L (fourth) by Saffron Prince; others preferred.

Form: 787834

Overawed²⁰²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 93| D

20/1

Mares handicap hurdle winner for Tom George in March 2017 (2m, Southwell), but didn't progress thereafter (including over fences), so has been moved on during the summer months.

Form: 51/005-5

Scrupuleux^h²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 93| D

10/1

Short-head winner from a 5lb lower mark at Worcester (2m+, good) in June; entitled to be sharper for a recent hurdles spin (Chepstow), but does need to bounce right back to form (and more) in order to take a hand.

Form: P-45160

Centreofexcellence^h,t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁵⁾| T: S Flook| OR: 87

9/2

Found a seam of form since switched to chasing and there was no disgrace in being beaten 8L by the subsequent winner Cap St Vincent at Ludlow (2m, good) latest.

Form: P85312

Diablerets^h¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: James Best| T: K Woollacott| OR: 82

25/1

Eight-race maiden; well beaten on recent chasing debut in a race which developed into a match from the sixth fence; not likely.

Form: F40-902

Non-Runners

Wenceslaus²⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: D G Bridgwater J: Daniel Hiskett

Forecasts

Wenceslaus (3/1), Shrewd Tactics (4/1), Centreofexcellence (9/2), Briac (9/2), Mountain Chimes (6/1), Lord Fendale (7/1), Scrupuleux (10/1), Asknotwhat (12/1), Le Capricieux (16/1), Overawed (20/1), Omega Springs (25/1), Diablerets (25/1)

A number of chasing newcomers feature including the consistent Lord Fendale and the hat-trick seeking Wenceslaus. However, it's fair to say that this isn't the strongest of contests, so we'll take a chance on a horse at a projected bigger price. Omega Springs could fare more positively returned to a Class 4 contest, whilst the 7yo Centreofexcellence has seen his recent Ludlow effort franked by the winner Cap St Vincent. However, a speculative shout is the Evan Williams-trained SHREWD TACTICS. He ran very well on his chasing debut at Taunton in March 2017 and will almost certainly draw considerable benefit for a recent reappearance run at Ffos Las.