13:55 Leicester

Friday 28 December 2018

All12:5013:2513:5514:3015:0515:40

Leicestershire Silver Fox Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:59 | Winning time: 4m 59.40s

Mad Jack Mytton⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁵⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 127

11/4

Probably stays this far, but is yet to win beyond 2m½f. On a very competitive mark if at his best for this return to chasing. Should be thereabouts.

Form: 3-54340

Nathans Pride^t³⁷⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 125| D

14/1

3lb higher than his only chase win at Musselburgh 13-months ago (2m4f, good). Won twice when fresh at the start of his career, but has not done so for five years. Competitive if able to produce his optimum.

Form: 0/47012-

Somewhere To Be^v³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Stock⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 125| D

15/2

Won twice over 2m4f/2m3f on testing ground last season, the latter from 10lb lower. Again ran well when second at Uttoxeter in September, but found the company too hot last time. 5lb claim can help. More needed, but not written off.

Form: 161P-2P

Jarlath^b¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: J W Mullins| OR: 118| C| D

10/1

Goes well over 2m4f on good ground. Scored at Warwick last month, for which he went up 9lb. Pulled up over 3m (good to soft) back there last time. Needs to bounce back, but could do back over this trip.

Form: 3-5821P

Steel Wave²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: G Hanmer| OR: 118| D

12/1

Finished off with Willie Mullins over hurdles, and had his first two runs for this trainer in that discipline. Being eased in the handicap, so may be capable of getting closer, but others make greater appeal.

Form: 463274

Canyouringmeback²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 117| D

10/1

Dual Huntingdon winner (2m4f, good) this year, the latter from 9lb lower. Nowhere near that level since taking on better opposition, giving him a fair bit to prove at present.

Form: 211UP7

Copper West²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 115

5/2

Maiden over fences, but has been very competitive in three of his five starts. 2m4f and good ground suits. 2lb drop will help. More needed, but back on a sound surface, he has claims.

Form: 5-22424

Astracad²³⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 111| D

7/1

Trip and ground suit. Without a win for two years and now 20lb lower than his last one. Returns from a seven-month break, and will probably find a few too good.

Form: 33377-P

Non-Runners

Lord Bryan²⁰

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: P & M Bowen J: James Bowen

Forecasts

Copper West (5/2), Mad Jack Mytton (11/4), Astracad (7/1), Lord Bryan (7/1), Somewhere To Be (15/2), Canyouringmeback (10/1), Jarlath (10/1), Steel Wave (12/1), Nathans Pride (14/1)

Mad Jack Mytton could have a say here, but there are several who will rightly feel they can stake a claim, with Jarlath, Lord Bryan and Somewhere To Be among them. However, COPPER WEST has been given a chance by the assessor and with conditions to suit, he can break his chasing duck.