12:50 Huntingdon

Sunday 9 December 2018

All12:1512:5013:2013:5514:2515:0015:30

Highflyer Bloodstock Novices' Chase

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 5m 6.7s

Bags Groove^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 151| C

6/4

Made a promising start to his chase career building on his first time out placed effort to score twice at Ffos Las and Wincanton (in a Grade 2 novice last time). Bold jumping is his main asset and that aspect of his game will see him win more races.

Form: 110-211

Thomas Campbell^p¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 149| D

4/1

Smart hurdler who was set a stiff task on his chasing debut at Newbury but performed well enough (stiffer test would have suited). Made the most of an easy task last time to beat three inferior rivals (headgear back on); gets a stiffer test here.

Form: 560P-41

Bastien²⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 135

11/1

Yet to run over fences but has scored three times over hurdles at up to 2m5f (failed to stay 3m under testing conditions). Never looked at home in the Coral Cup at the Festival (last time he was seen) and this isn't an easy start over fences.

Form: 3/31F50-

Now Mcginty^p⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 143

8/1

Progressive as a hurdler of late (won two handicaps in March) he's bred to make a chaser. Ran about as well as he could when coming across the classy The Worlds End on his chasing debut; entitled to progress, meets some smart types again.

Form: 00112-2

Oh Land Abloom¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King| OR: 127

33/1

Just one chase outing to his name so far and returned to hurdles on the back of his debut when he looked rusty. Should shape better now after taking the runner-up slot over hurdles last time; non-runner at Sandown on Friday (ground too testing).

Form: 6207-42

Red Rising²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 138| D

4/1

Bred to make a chaser; shaped with plenty of encouragement on his debut over 2m4f, soft at Carlisle (race will prove sound form). A little way behind a couple of these over hurdles but will appreciate the step up to 3m, hurdles winner at the trip.

Form: 3121P-4

Silver Kayf²³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| C

10/1

Twice a hurdles winner last season but anything in that sphere was a bonus and given his size and scope chasing looks very much his game. Likes to run prominently and travelled well over hurdles; an exciting prospect who tries 3m for the first time.

Form: F41310-

Non-Runners

Chameron⁵⁶

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: P F Nicholls J: H Cobden

Forecasts

Bags Groove (6/4), Thomas Campbell (4/1), Red Rising (4/1), Now Mcginty (8/1), Silver Kayf (10/1), Bastien (11/1), Chameron (12/1), Oh Land Abloom (33/1)

A fascinating heat and one that would grace a bigger track with BAGS GROOVE despite having to concede weight to the entire field still of interest on the back of his small-field Grade 2 win last time where his jumping was very fluent. Thomas Campbell could be a thorn in his side although he’s yet to really sparkle over fences and Red Rising may prove a greater danger with his Carlisle debut under his belt reverting to 3m, a trip that all his hurdles wins came over. Silver Kayf is an interesting newcomer to this sphere who should make his mark while Chameron is very much the dark horse of this race and it’s suspected we haven’t seen then best of him yet.