15:25 Leicester

Friday 8 March 2019

All13:5014:2014:5015:2516:0016:30

Leicestershire And Derbyshire Yeomanry Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 5m 14.0s

Waikiki Waves¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: N F Houlihan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 98

7/4

Versatile sort, made winning start over fences at Lingfield (2m, soft) in novices' handicap in January. Likely found near three-mile trip beyond his optimum there since and could go much better back down in distance.

Form: P04716

The Captain^b¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 98

3/1

Beaten favourite over 2m here last month on second chase start, he was since beaten 20+L over his trip at Huntingdon and is 0-8 in all codes now. Yard 3-8 recently however.

Form: 308334

Chasma^p⁸²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Bannister| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 97| D

5/1

Latest win came on good ground over similar trip at Southwell right back in November 2017. Mostly disappointing in efforts last year, though handicap mark has now dropped to workable level returning from short break.

Form: 3-60375

Change Ur Tune¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 87

10/1

Ran about as well as could be expected behind 1-10 favourite Azzerti at Ludlow on chase bow last month (under 8L third of three). Modest record previously, and not an obvious winner for now.

Form: 39P5P3

Bajardo^t⁴⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Bargary| T: Mrs E Bishop| OR: 84WS

20/1

Dual chase winner at around 2m in 2017, but badly out of sorts in four of his five runs last year and again in January at Chepstow (2m3½f, soft). Needs subsequent wind operation to bring about change in fortune.

Form: B3-8868

Dont Be Robin^p¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 84

12/1

12-race maiden under rules, having failed to open account previously in point-to-points. Merely passed beaten rivals on debut over fences at Ludlow (2m, good) last month, needs sizeable improvement.

Form: 908694

Bally Lagan^b³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: R Dickin| OR: 82| CD

16/1

Winner of four chases including off a 4lb higher mark at Taunton (2m2f, good) in April 2017. All bar pulled up on last four starts (three over fences) and makes little appeal on current form.

Form: 566PP7

Muilean Na Madog^t1,v1²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽⁵⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 80

14/1

Poor form over hurdles but took a step forward on his chasing debut from a basement mark when second at Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft) in December. Hasn't threatened anything similar in three further starts, including over C&D. Array of headgear added.

Form: 772855

Forecasts

Waikiki Waves (7/4), The Captain (3/1), Chasma (5/1), Change Ur Tune (10/1), Dont Be Robin (12/1), Muilean Na Madog (14/1), Bally Lagan (16/1), Bajardo (20/1)

WAIKIKI WAVES improved for the switch to fences at Lingfield in January and may well have found 3m beyond desirable back there since. This trip is more his thing and 10lb taken off by Niall Houlihan makes him an appealing proposition in what doesn't look a strong line-up. The Captain promises more than he showed at Huntingdon last time while Chasma is on a very workable mark if able to find his best stuff.