15:00 Sandown

Friday 7 December 2018

All12:5013:2013:5514:2515:0015:30

Holiday Inn Shepperton Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 50.70s

Pete The Feat^t²⁶

Age: 14| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr P Mason⁽⁷⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 132| CD

8/1

Seldom seen elsewhere nowadays this admirable teenager even has a race named after him at this track; 5lb higher than when a shock 25/1 winner of this in 2017; can prove stronger for a recent run, yet needs a herculean effort knocking on 15.

Form: 412P1-7

Mendip Express^t²⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr D Maxwell| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 124| D

6/1

Stablemate of Perform; 6-21 over fences and flitted in and out of form last season with a demolition job (from the outset) a clear highlight in a 3m Hexham Hunters' Chase (soft); probably not the force of old.

Form: 2/441-56

Perform²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Ben Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 124

9/2

Stablemate of Mendip Express; in comparison to the vast majority of this field, he remains unexposed over fences after making just three starts; in obvious need of the race at Exeter latest (3m, good) on return from a 12-month absence.

Form: 164/F4-7

Potters Corner^p1²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien| T: Christian Williams| OR: 123

8/1

Tailed-off (behind Perform) on return from a 22-month absence at Exeter (3m, good); undoubtedly has ability and handles soft ground, but whether or not Christian Williams can coax out his best form is debatable; wears newly applied cheekpieces.

Form: 12342/9

Knockanrawley^p²³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Martin McIntyre⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 122| D

11/4

Proper stayer (4L runner-up to Mysteree in the 2017 Eider Chase); has fallen back to a very handy mark (122) and is more than capable of making his presence felt against these rivals; reasonable place chance if returning in 'A1' condition.

Form: 23P553-

Hey Bill²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Callum McBride⁽⁷⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 122| D

20/1

Weakened after racing prominently throughout on seasonal debut at his beloved Ludlow (3m1f, good); possibility of better to come but requires a career best effort in order to score from his current mark; wouldn't want too much more rain.

Form: 41B21-6

Thomas Crapper^p¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: R Dickin| OR: 120

9/1

Capitalised on a much reduced handicap mark when taking full advantage of a fall from his challenging rival (Mont Royale) in a Class 3 veterans' handicap at Southwell latest; reasonable place chance off a 4lb higher mark; handles most conditions.

Form: U/P9-601

Fifty Shades⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Ms Lisa O'Neill| T: Christian Williams| OR: 105

9/2

Three years the junior of his nearest rival in terms of age and has the assistance of Lisa O'Neill in the saddle; jumps well, stays well, and is the horse with the strongest recent form (¾L runner-up to Sam Red at Cheltenham); solid.

Form: 2113P2

Non-Runners

Wicked Willy⁵⁶

Weight: 12-5| Age: 7

T: N & W Twiston-Davies J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Knockanrawley (11/4), Perform (9/2), Fifty Shades (9/2), Mendip Express (6/1), Wicked Willy (15/2), Pete The Feat (8/1), Potters Corner (8/1), Thomas Crapper (9/1), Hey Bill (20/1)

The rock-solid stayer Knockanrawley is of interest from a falling mark assuming that he returns from his summer break in 'A1' condition, with the market (and trainers blog) likely to provide some clues on that score either way. Thomas Crapper was perhaps a shade fortunate to score at Southwell, but was in the process of running a big race in any case and he couldn't be discounted despite a subsequent 4lb rise in the weights. However, the booking of Lisa O'Neill further strengthens the hand held by the Christian Williams-trained FIFTY SHADES. This youngster boasts the best recent form (Cheltenham) and rates as very sound advice against some ageing rivals.