15:15 Market Rasen

Sunday 7 July 2019

All14:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:5017:25

Ham National Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 4m 22.6s

Game Line¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 94

5/1

Not shown much over hurdles but there's a glimmer of hope after two efforts over fences last month; the gelding was soundly beaten on each occasion but overcame some sloppy early mistakes to stay on past beaten horses. Could do the same here.

Form: P59-433

Oksana^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 93

7/2

A maiden over hurdles who posted her best effort to date when second over an extended two miles at this course last month. Needs to prove she can jump a fence though.

Form: 797-552

Picknick Park^p³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: N Kent| OR: 89| BF

9/2

More experienced over fences than a few of these and has already hit the post on a couple of occasions. Been found a weak opening and placed high on the shortlist in this moderate company. (Been placed over C&D already.)

Form: 0425-23

Khairagash²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 89

7/2

Bolted up when winning at Ffos Las in May and ran well under a 10lb higher mark (same as today) last time out. Looks like being a better chaser than hurdler and strikes as the one they all have to beat in this modest event.

Form: 06P-812

Mariners Moon¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 81

7/1

On the same mark as when a good second at Warwick last September but has been hit or miss since then. Folded tamely on his only other previous attempt over these fences and needs to bounce back from another poor effort last time out.

Form: 425P-2P

Wisecracker^b,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: B I Case| OR: 75

6/1

Ran to a consistent level last year but been below par in both efforts since January; never a factor last time out and needs to race with a lot more enthusiasm.

Form: 2233P-9

Mac Cennetig^p⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Henry Brooke| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 74

17/2

Plenty of experience over hurdles and ran encouragingly to dead-heat for third at Cartmel last month. He's still a maiden after 22 starts over timber and plenty to prove now tackling fences for the first time.

Form: 5536-33

Non-Runners

Phoebus Lescribaa¹³

Weight: 12-6| Age: 7

T: F O'Brien J: C Brace

Forecasts

Khairagash (7/2), Phoebus Lescribaa (7/2), Oksana (7/2), Picknick Park (9/2), Game Line (5/1), Wisecracker (6/1), Mariners Moon (7/1), Mac Cennetig (17/2)

KHAIRAGASH looks the percentage call in a tricky race to fathom. The gelding showed what he's capable of when winning by 10l at Ffos Las in May; and he also ran well (from the same mark as today) last time out. Picknick Park looks the most reliable of the opposition, and it's a bonus that he's gone well here before; there may also mileage to be gained from an each-way punt on Game Line staying on past beaten horses to snatch a place in the frame if all declared fulfill their intentions to face the tapes.