13:25 Ludlow

Wednesday 19 December 2018

All12:2012:5513:2514:0014:3515:0515:35

Tanners Wines Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 3m 57.40s

Bigmartre^p1¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| OR: 147| CD

8/1

Thrived over fences last year winning three races from the front in small fields ending the season with a Grade 2 win at Ayr (weak race for the grade). Both starts this season haven't really gone to plan so far (bad blunder last time); headgear on.

Form: 1271-6P

Tree Of Liberty²³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 143| CD

16/1

Won twice over fences for this yard last year creating a good impression when winning on chasing debut over C&D. That was the upside the downside was a defeat at 1-20 over C&D and a tame defeat when last seen; best watched for now.

Form: P/12125-

Mercian Prince³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 141WS

10/1

Back-to-back chase winner over 2m4f earlier this year; the 2nd win coming in a higher grade than this. Would have needed the run on his return over 2m4f at Aintree (ran better than his final position); should be sharper now and back from a wind op.

Form: 81105-6

Sternrubin^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 139| CD

7/2

Useful sort on the Flat and over hurdles with his chase form taking a time to match that level but getting there with two recent wins the last one over C&D. Didn't jump particularly well there though (not fluent) and in a higher grade now(up 5lb).

Form: 03-0161

Baby King^p,t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 135| D

25/1

Has a rather uneven feel to his profile despite winning on a couple of occasions last seasons (both over 2m on soft). Can travel well in his races (can find little) and first-time cheekpieces added to usual tongue-tie last time when brought down.

Form: 25P1-6B

Capeland^t⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 133| BF| D

11/8

Run well of late winning twice at Wincanton (once over 2m) in a lower grade although he has looked to need some careful handling at times. Defeated last time but still ran well (improving winner got first run on him); looks well-in off the same mark.

Form: 222112

Robinshill^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 133| CD

8/1

Twice a C&D winner (November 2017) the 2nd win off a 4lb higher mark he's not been in the same sort of form since then. Best performance since came back here last time (had won race year before), finishing 3rd; jumping still lacks fluency.

Form: 1P5P-73

Un Prophete²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 125| CD

10/1

Trainer is starting to fire although this one has a very in-and-out profile; can make mistakes with his last win coming in a weak Exeter handicap just over a year ago. Fell last time out (3rd fall in last six starts over fences); risky proposition.

Form: F/4F1P-F

River Purple^t¹⁷⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Miss L Brooke⁽⁷⁾| T: Lady S Brooke| OR: 74| CD

150/1

Has won over C&D with that win coming when causing a 33-1 shock back in April 2017. Runs from miles out of the handicap and the chances of him repeating that win in a higher grade is slim.

Form: PP-P668

Non-Runners

Theflyingportrait²¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 9

T: J Candlish J: Sean Quinlan

Peppay Le Pugh¹⁹

Weight: 10-8| Age: 7

T: D Skelton J: Bridget Andrews

Forecasts

Capeland (11/8), Sternrubin (7/2), Theflyingportrait (7/2), Peppay Le Pugh (7/1), Bigmartre (8/1), Robinshill (8/1), Un Prophete (10/1), Mercian Prince (10/1), Tree Of Liberty (16/1), Baby King (25/1), River Purple (150/1)

A contest that can be considered useful with the trainers of the last four winners all having runners again. CAPELAND looks as though he needs kid gloves handling at times but is clearly talented and is also 5lb well-in here after failing to complete a hat-trick last time. The battle upfront should be a fierce one with Bigmartre, Liberty Tree and Theflyingportrait all likely to go forward the last named of that trio having a stiffer task that last time but he can never be written off with his game attitude. Sternrubin is another that likes to go forward although he’ll need to brush his jumping up with dual course winner Robinshill another that needs to jump with more alacrity.