14:25 Wincanton

Thursday 17 January 2019

All12:5013:2013:5514:2515:0015:3516:10

Healthy Pets Somerset National Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 57.00s

Gunfleet³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 139

4/1

Won his sole bumper and last two starts over hurdles. Went agonisingly close to a smart horse on chase debut before being pitched out of his depth at Cheltenham. This a more realistic target and he has to be feared.

Form: 2511-23

Wandrin Star^t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 137

8/1

Has risen through the ranks this season and no disgrace off today's mark at Ascot last time. A line through the second (Just A Sting) leaves him closely matched with Gunfleet.

Form: 2-21613

Belmount^p⁶⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 133

25/1

Had been in rude health prior to finding the competition too hot in the Badger Ales trophy two months ago. Has had a deserved break since and he goes well fresh.

Form: 37112P

Dancing Shadow^b³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 127

20/1

Has mixed hurdling with chasing since winning the Edinburgh National (4m1f) at Musselburgh in February 2017. Handily weighted if sharpened by his two runs back from an absence.

Form: 0P43-80

Potters Corner^p²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: Christian Williams| OR: 127| C

7/2

Stable enjoying a good run and this lightly raced sort took his record to 4-14 over C&D on Boxing Day. Said to want better ground than he had that day and a 7lb rise should be manageable based on previous form.

Form: 342/9P1

Perform²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Ben Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 126

5/1

Has something to find with Potters Corner on latest form, particularly as that rival will be better served by the forecast sounder surface.

Form: 4/F4-743

Garrane⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 122

3/1

Has been unlucky to bump into improving types on his last two starts with both winners scoring again next time. Stable in good form and another noteworthy performance looks likely.

Form: 11P-222

Len Brennan³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 122

10/1

Last of two and third of three finishers in both chase starts. Flattered last time and faces a big task in this company.

Form: F3-9323

Like The Sound^t1³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann| OR: 122

16/1

Well handicapped judged on his hurdling form. However, three runs over fences at 3m plus suggest there are stamina doubts.

Form: 412/262

Forecasts

Garrane (3/1), Potters Corner (7/2), Gunfleet (4/1), Perform (5/1), Wandrin Star (8/1), Len Brennan (10/1), Like The Sound (16/1), Dancing Shadow (20/1), Belmount (25/1)

Gunfleet and Wandrin Star are closely matched on form and both are expected to go close. Garrane has been unlucky to bump into progressive horses on his last couple of starts and he may find himself meeting another here in the shape of C&D winner POTTERS CORNER. The nine-year-old has only had 14 races but has won four of them and has gone well off this mark previously. His trainer continues in excellent form and suggested last time that the selection ideally wants the good ground forecast here.