14:55 Wetherby

Friday 4 January 2019

All12:4513:1513:4514:2014:5515:30

wetherbyracing.co.uk Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 7m 15.60s

Glenrua^p1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-5| J: Mr Martin McIntyre⁽³⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 102

12/1

Inconsistent over fences and hurdles so far, and well beaten in a Limerick maiden hurdle when last seen in November. Has mostly raced at around 2m (failed to complete in four 3m point-to-points). Cheekpieces now tried. Others make more appeal.

Form: 09557-0

Hattons Hill^b1¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: J M Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: H Hogarth| OR: 95

9/1

Reeled off five successive wins at Hexham (all 3m) in 2017. Went up a total of 27lb for that, before the handicapper caught up. Two respectable runs this season. Pulled up last time, but on a handy mark again if bouncing back in first-time blinkers.

Form: PPP-44P

Nortonthorpelegend⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 88

1/1

Recorded a hat-trick in the 2016-17 season, the last of them from 18lb higher. Largely in the doldrums since. Despite that, proved good enough to make all and win comfortably at Catterick last week and has claims again under a penalty.

Form: 4-PPP61

Gogo Baloo^b,t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr William Easterby| T: T D Easterby| OR: 85

20/1

Maiden over hurdles. Best effort came here (2m3½f, heavy) last March. Tailed off on Hexham chase debut, but supported prior to 11L second at Sedgefield (2m3½f; first-time blinkers/tongue-tie) last time. 3lb lower. More needed up in trip.

Form: 337-8P2

Houndscourt^p,t²⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: Amie Waugh⁽³⁾| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 85| C

6/1

Inconsistent but has still won seven races, one of them here over hurdles (3m, good to soft) in 2017. Recorded his first chase success since 2015 at Market Rasen last time, by 18L. Up 8lb, so more needed if he is to back up a win for the first time.

Form: 14-60B1

Shaiyzar^p⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 82

12/1

0-25 over fences. Beaten 17½L bh Nortonthorpelegend at Catterick last week, and no obvious reason why he should be able to reverse those placings.

Form: 535734

Frank The Slink^p,t³³

Age: 13| Weight: 10-13| J: Miss Becky Smith| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 82

12/1

Stays 3m2f on soft ground. 4lb higher here than the last of his four wins, which was at Hexham 14-months ago. Frame claims if able to repeat his run behind Inchcolm back at Hexham on his penultimate start, but hard to envisage him winning.

Form: 17-P22P

Kilmacallogue Bay^p1²⁴⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 10-7| J: Miss Emma Yardley⁽⁷⁾| T: S England| OR: 76

7/1

Veteran who won four of his 35 point-to-points. Has just his fourth start under rules here. Previous efforts do not inspire, even with cheekpieces to provide possible assistance, plus the good form of the yard in recent days.

Form: 321/23-P

Forecasts

Nortonthorpelegend (1/1), Houndscourt (6/1), Kilmacallogue Bay (7/1), Hattons Hill (9/1), Shaiyzar (12/1), Frank The Slink (12/1), Glenrua (12/1), Gogo Baloo (20/1)

Moderate fayre, where caution is again advised. Houndscourt dotted up at Market Rasen and a literal interpretation of that form should make him a confident choice to follow up from 8lb higher. However, he has had even previous chances to record back-to-back wins and not managed to do so, so we'll look elsewhere and side with NORTONTHORPELEGEND. He may not be the force of old, but looks worth sticking with this time, despite a penalty, now that he is back in form. Hattons Hill is considered, given his current mark and blinkers to possibly galvanise him, while Frank The Slink could pick up some prize money.