17:35 Ffos Las

Thursday 6 June 2019

All17:3518:1018:4019:1519:4520:1520:50

West Coast Haulage Supporting Wales Air Ambulance Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:35 | Winning time: 6m 14.9s

Butlergrove King^p,t¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁷⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 101| C| D

4/1

Solid start for his new yard this spring with a win at Fakenham (2m5f, good) proving to be his best effort (also recorded two runner-up slots). Front/prominent runner who showed he could cope with this mark last time; should run well again.

Form: 2/472-12

Great Tempo^b,t1²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 100

12/1

Hardly the most consistent with the only GB/career win coming on his debut in this country. Ran to form at Ludlow in January over fences under this rider; below-par since over both hurdles/fences; tongue-tie added to blinkers.

Form: 6543P-5

Moorlands George^t²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 99| D

16/1

Lightly-raced in recent years his best recent run coming on his second run back from a wind op (third at Hereford; didn't shape like a future winner). Pulled up in his last two starts; mark is falling but showing little sign of taking advantage.

Form: 62/73P-P

Cruising Bye^b,t¹⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 98| C| D

6/1

Has reached the veteran stage of his career now but still appears in good heart his most recent effort (second at Cartmel over a marathon trip) being particularly laudable. Can make mistakes (not a fluent jumper); 4lb well-in here, not written off.

Form: 5P3-322

A Tail Of Intrigue^p²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 97| D

17/2

On the downgrade but should be able to make his presence felt in this company. Never really threatened to get involved last time at Warwick (3m, good/soft). Needs to improve on that run; a hard one to catch right these days.

Form: 14640-4

Marvellous Monty²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: J Farrelly| OR: 95

22/1

Fair sort over hurdles but yet to win a race (0-20 in bumpers/hurdles) and didn't really look as though she would be breaking her duck given her initial try over fences. Down 4lb for that run but arrives with questions to answer in this sphere.

Form: 36746-0

Gentleman Moore^h¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽³⁾| T: Miss N L-Beavis| OR: 92| C

7/1

Despite finishing in the frame in four of his last five races he remains vulnerable (looks very one-paced) and he gives the impression he's not the most genuine either. This 3m trip also looks set to test him (not won beyond 2m4f).

Form: 62P32-2

Torhousemuir²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: S Thomas| OR: 89

9/1

Went through a good spell last summer (without wining) but his form pre/post a recent six-month break has failed to reach those heights. For all he may have needed the run last time he looked rather laboured; one to watch rather than support.

Form: 32P43-6

The Boom Is Back⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: T J O'Brien| T: Christian Williams| OR: 87| BF| D

4/1

Rather perplexing sort as he was strong in the betting last time (started favourite) and travelled well until folding quickly (over C&D). Mark continues to fall sharply but backing him would involve taking a risk yet again.

Form: 7087P8-

Againn Dul Aghaidh⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Brendan Powell| T: A E Jones| OR: 87| D

16/1

Multiple PTP winner (5-11) but yet to show anything like that form under Rules (0-7 over fences); pulled up the last twice. Handicapper continues to ease his mark (down another 5lb here); hard to fashion a case overall.

Form: 4668PP-

Jonagold^t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 86| D

12/1

Scrambled home to win Warwick handicap chase (2m4f) last September but in truth has struggled to match that form since then. Below-par in three runs off the back of a break making little impression over 2m here last time; returns to 3m now.

Form: 55456-3

Moreece^p²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: P J Brennan| T: J L Flint| OR: 83| D

11/1

Starts life with a new yard without ever having won under Rules (has won in the PTP sphere). Finished well held at Chepstow last time in a novice hunters' event; pulled up between the flags since and not one to be entering calculations.

Form: P425-2P

Culm Counsellor²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: C J Down| OR: 73| D

8/1

There was an element of halting his recent slump when he too a modest third at Warwick recently (beaten 18L); ran into an improving sort at that level. Has failed to back-up reasonable performances before; still one to take care with.

Form: 4/78PP-3

Forecasts

The Boom Is Back (4/1), Butlergrove King (4/1), Cruising Bye (6/1), Gentleman Moore (7/1), Culm Counsellor (8/1), A Tail Of Intrigue (17/2), Torhousemuir (9/1), Moreece (11/1), Great Tempo (12/1), Jonagold (12/1), Againn Dul Aghaidh (16/1), Moorlands George (16/1), Marvellous Monty (22/1)

A race of ifs and buts with a few maybes thrown in for good measure and the safest way to look at this contest is to take BUTLERGROVE KING to continue his good run of form with no reason to think he won’t perform well again here. Cruising Bye is in the veteran stage now but has shown some fire on his last few starts and if he can continue to run at that level he won’t be far away. Despite his form figures The Boom Is Back is worth keeping an eye on in the betting while Jonagold will be better suited by this 3m trip than the 2m he ran over here last time. Great Tempo would have to step forward on his chasing form so far but the addition of a tongue-tie may help in that respect.