13:45 Market Rasen

Wednesday 26 December 2018

All12:1012:4013:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Garthwest Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 13:46 | Winning time: 5m 47.9s

Bennys King¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 126

11/8

Won once over hurdles for Venetia Williams but made fine start over fences for new yard when winning at Chepstow earlier this month, jumping well. Raised 6lb but very possible there is more to come.

Form: 2104/P-1

Cake de L'Isle^t⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 125| CD

5/1

Scored here over hurdles in April 2017. Made chasing bow at Carlisle last month on second start since wind surgery and weakened tamely from 4 out. May have needed the run though and improvement is not ruled out.

Form: 1/U627-8

Cave Top¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 125

11/2

Won three in autumn 2017 over hurdles and goes well in testing ground. Showed little on first chase start at Carlisle in October but shaped much better at Aintree last time, only fading at the final fence. Down 4lb so looks a player.

Form: 5582-96

Miles To Milan^p³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 122

7/1

Has taken well to fences and is 2-3, scoring at Ayr in February and at Wetherby over 3m last time. 4lb rise looks fair but not certain drop back in trip will be in his favour.

Form: P/4-1431

Spencer Lea⁷⁶⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: James Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 119| CD

20/1

Very lightly raced veteran who won hurdles but not been seen since good chase debut here in November 2016. Makes debut for new yard and has won after a long break in past so market moves may be best guide.

Form: 161283/

Real Warrior²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: C T Pogson| OR: 118

16/1

Hasn't seen much racing and hard to assess on mixed evidence in four Rules starts so far. Pulled up quickly before halfway four weeks ago at Doncaster having previously run creditably in two-runner affair and has dropped 2lb.

Form: 21/P3-2P

Pookie Pekan²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 113| BF| D

4/1

Seems to save his best for Wetherby where he won in November before disappointing when odds-on over 3m here last time where he may not have stayed. Drop in trip should help along with rider's 5lb claim.

Form: 916-712

L'Es Fremantle²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: M C Chapman| OR: 77| CD

40/1

Popped up at 80/1 over C&D three starts ago and has run creditably on both start since then. Is a whopping 29lb out of the handicap though so really does look up against it this time.

Form: P48142

Forecasts

Bennys King (11/8), Pookie Pekan (4/1), Cake de L'Isle (5/1), Cave Top (11/2), Miles To Milan (7/1), Real Warrior (16/1), Spencer Lea (20/1), L'Es Fremantle (40/1)

CAVE TOP shaped well for a very long way last time and having been eased 4lb since looks handicapped to go well. Bennys King has every chance if recovered from his win at Chepstow a few weeks ago, and Cake De L'Isle is surely better than we have seen so far over fences and is open to imporvement. Despite a long absence Spencer Lea cannot be ruled out, nor can Pookie Pekan who drops back in trip. Miles To Milan is in form and is another who enters the equation.