14:40 Stratford

Thursday 22 August 2019

All13:0013:3514:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Sheila Vaughan Memorial Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 5m 38.10s

More Buck's^t³³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 132

20/1

Has developed a tendency to pop up now again and he is probably due a big run after a string of tame efforts since his last success in January. Hard to recommend wholeheartedly.

Form: P4U5-6P

Kentford Heiress⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: Daniel Sansom⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 132| D

16/1

Landed a valuable hurdle on good ground in the spring and has done nothing but improve since going chasing. This is an easier race than last time and she has to enter calculations if it remains dry.

Form: 071-113

El Terremoto^b1,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 129| C

15/2

Course winner ran a big race in the Summer Plate a month ago before finding three miles too far at Perth. Down to an attractive mark and blinkers fitted so a big run could be on the cards.

Form: F280-43

Meldrum Lad⁸³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Justin Landy| OR: 127| CD

9/2

Unbeaten since joining this leading point-to-point yard and took the Ladies Championship race over C&D in May. Handicapper has taken a generous view of that performance given how easily he scored and the horses he beat.

Form: 20/111-1

Poker School^p⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 126

12/1

Has looked a lot more consistent lately and gained an overdue success in April. However, he has underperformed on two previous visits here and will need to be at his best to defy this mark.

Form: 2531-23

Pink Eyed Pedro^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: C Brace⁽⁵⁾| T: D Brace| OR: 125

9/2

Prolific winning point-to-pointer is having a good year under rules with victories at Chepstow, Worcester and Ffos Las over both sets of obstacles. Faces a stiff task here though in this company off a demanding mark.

Form: 1-34112

Soupy Soups^p⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 123| D

12/1

Chasing form has not got anywhere near what he was achieving over hurdles, but he was a good second to Cloth Cap over C&D in November and this easier than his latest start. Handicapper has dropped him 3lb and a case can be made for him.

Form: 322P-20

Topofthecotswolds²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 122| C

5/1

All out to beat a faltering perennial loser over C&D earlier in the month and faces a much sterner challenge on this occasion. Has age and courage on his side but significant improvement likely to be needed.

Form: 62-22F1

Midnight Maestro^p1³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 122| C

16/1

Triple hurdling winner has not taken well to chasing and has plenty to find with Kentford Heiress. Cheekpieces fitted but he remains unconvincing judged on his latest weak effort.

Form: 10F-355

Exxaro^b,t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁷⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 117

10/1

Last win came in a modest affair and he has been well-beaten on his last four starts in this class. Today's mark and rider's claim give him hope, but others look preferable.

Form: 365-3P2

Vendredi Trois^p⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 117| D

12/1

Remains 10lb above his last winning chase mark and looks held by Soupy Soups on C&D form last winter. Stable took this last year.

Form: 232-258

Primal Focus¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 110

25/1

Made hard work of justifying favouritism in a weak race on penultimate outing. Underwent wind surgery and finished tailed off earlier this month so obvious questions to answer.

Form: 352F1-9

Forecasts

Pink Eyed Pedro (9/2), Meldrum Lad (9/2), Topofthecotswolds (5/1), El Terremoto (15/2), Exxaro (10/1), Vendredi Trois (12/1), Soupy Soups (12/1), Poker School (12/1), Midnight Maestro (16/1), Kentford Heiress (16/1), More Buck's (20/1), Primal Focus (25/1)

This is not the strongest of races for the grade and a few have questions to answer on recent form. Soupy Soups and El Terremoto have dropped to more attractive marks so could post improved efforts, whilst Kentford Heiress has been in good form and will find this easier than last time. In contrast Topofthecotswolds faces a more strenuous examination, whereas Poker School and Pink Eyed Pedro are fully weighted. MELDRUM LAD comfortably beat a useful pair here in May with something to spare and represents a good point-to-point stable. That form arguably makes him well-handicapped if he is able to match the performance.