ROA Members Enjoy Free Racing Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 6m 47.4s

Great Tempo^b¹²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 103

6/1

Sole win was over hurdles in November 2016 at 1/25 but has had just the four runs over fences and showed enough ability on three of them to suggest there could be a bit more to come.

Form: 26543P-

Iniesta²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: David Bass| T: M Blake| OR: 101| C

11/1

Several placed efforts over the smaller obstacles and off the mark on first run over fences here last month over 2m5f. Yet to run beyond 3m so stamina has to be taken on trust and this a shade tougher.

Form: 6P2261-

Pleney¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 100

5/1

Still early days and best form to date when fourth of 18 over insufficient 2m4f at Chepstow last time. Chase debut today and step up in trip a plus so no surprise if he takes another step forward.

Form: 477994-

Lovely Touch⁷²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 97| BF

16/1

Clearly has had his problems and hasn't been seen since 2017. Had scored three times from four runs over hurdles for Sam Thomas in the 12 months preceding that but untried beyond 2m5f.

Form: 571112/

Jot'em Down^p²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽³⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 96| D

3/1

Bumper winner in his younger days but following spell in the wilderness showed improved form on chasing debut when winning 2 finisher race stepped up to this trip on chase debut last month. Well backed on that occasion, now 6lb higher.

Form: 0/70791-

Quinto^p,t⁹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Bryony Frost| T: J D Frost| OR: 83

12/1

Went close at Hereford two runs ago but below that when well beaten third at Fontwell since and strike rate of 1-31 shows his vulnerability.

Form: P24P23-

Taaffes Castle^t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: James Bowen| T: Christian Williams| OR: 79

7/4

Landed Point-to-point only start in that sphere in December. Nothing in three runs in novice hurdles but big improvement when handicapping over hurdles stepped up to this trip at Warwick in first time tongue tie. Now goes chasing off same mark.

Form: 1094-2

Forecasts

Taaffes Castle (7/4), Jot'em Down (3/1), Pleney (5/1), Great Tempo (6/1), Iniesta (11/1), Quinto (12/1), Lovely Touch (16/1)

If he takes to the larger obstacles, and he did win on his only run in a Point-to-point, TAAFFES CASTLE could take plenty of beating. Pleney is another who should do better in this sphere and Jot'em Down won well enough on chase debut to suggest he should have more to come.