14:25 Uttoxeter

Saturday 16 March 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:50

Brit Plant Direct Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 6m 34.10s

De Rasher Counter⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 140| D

4/1

Getting the hang of things over fences and plenty to like from his last couple of starts; his win at Newbury in December was particular encouraging. Ran well from a 6lb higher mark latest and must be respected from just 1lb higher this time.

Form: 2-3P712

Captain Cattistock^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140| D

7/2

Up just 3lb for winning at Exeter last month and has plenty of scope for further progress. Was also a progressive hurdler and his versatility can be a good tool. One of the more likely winners.

Form: 14-6F31

Polydora⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: R Johnson| T: T Lacey| OR: 139

10/1

Beaten just over 21l by De Rasher County latest and while he's respected for a place in the frame, he's got a lot of work to do in his efforts to reverse the form.

Form: 1U-2313

Aintree My Dream^t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 134| D

10/1

Has some ability and winning form over hurdles but not yet transferred the same enthusiasm over fences. Has a bit to find with Polydora and looks set to play a minor role.

Form: 14/3-62F

Dr Des²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 129

10/1

Another with form that ties in with some of today's rivals and while his latest effort reads well, the gelding also has a bit to find with Aintree My Dream on a literal reading of their encounter over 2m4f here in December.

Form: 71-3554

Scotchtown^t1,v²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 126

15/2

0-10 over fences but does have some reasonable form to his name and has already been placed four times from those ten starts. The visor and tongue tie combination for the first time could help. One to bear in mind.

Form: 29-6432

Lough Derg Farmer²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 125| D

6/1

Career didn't really pan out as planned during his time with Nicky Henderson but broke his maiden over fences at Carlisle latest. He's a consistent sort but this looks a tougher ask of him; others make a tad more appeal.

Form: 532231

Eureu Du Boulay^t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 125

33/1

Won a couple of modest novice events earlier in the campaign but has been found wanting of late. 8lb above his last winning mark and another likely to find a few of these rivals more progressive.

Form: 511242

Late Romantic^t²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: P J Brennan| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 122| D

14/1

Shown some ability in three starts over fences so far but needs to up his game and has a bit to find on the balance of form.

Form: 11U-235

Tara Flow¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 121| C

9/1

Just three starts over fences so far and only faced modest company up to now. This is his stiffest test to date and he may find this beyond him at this stage.

Form: 645/442

Brynmawr^p¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 118

16/1

Placed once from four starts over fences so far and a big step forward now required. Yard won this race in 2016 but need a lot to go their way to repeat the feat this time.

Form: 22-F643

Forecasts

Captain Cattistock (7/2), De Rasher Counter (4/1), Lough Derg Farmer (6/1), Scotchtown (15/2), Tara Flow (9/1), Polydora (10/1), Dr Des (10/1), Aintree My Dream (10/1), Late Romantic (14/1), Brynmawr (16/1), Eureu Du Boulay (33/1)

Tough to call but CAPTAIN CATTISTOCK is a progressive individual and might just have too many guns for De Rasher County, who looks the pick of the opposition. Polydora and Scotchtown can scrap it out as the best of the rest.