13:55 Kelso

Saturday 9 November 2019

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

IJF Wishing Well Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:56 | Winning time: 5m 54.6s

Dieg Man⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 129| D

8/1

Has quite an enviable career record 5-15 although just one of those wins has come over fences and he's yet to score in a handicap in this sphere. Unexposed still over fences (scored off this mark over hurdles); does need to brush up his jumping.

Form: 6/117-33

Acdc^h,t¹⁷⁶

16/1

Pulled up on his last two chase stats (could well be the reason for a second wind op) this dual course winner returns with something to prove. Will find this easier than his most recent starts (1lb above last winning mark); will come on for the run.

Form: 1434P-P

Slanelough^h²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 129

8/1

Yet to win over fences (0-5) but despite not completing in his last three starts he's still shown ability in this discipline. Those non-completions are a black mark against him though and he'll be best watched until showing he can jump more fluently.

Form: 6/45UF-U

Beau Sancy^p,t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: David England| T: O Murphy| OR: 129| C

22/1

Course winner over further on his first run back from a wind op in May cruising clear off a mark of 114. Surprisingly failed to really build on that run since often flattering to deceive; bad mistake ended his chance last time; comes with baggage.

Form: 4-12234

Clan Legend^t²⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 126| C

11/2

Dual course winner (once over fences) who returns having run a very useful race in a better contest than this at Ayr (2m, soft). Has run well when fresh before so the absence isn't a concern; he handles this ground and looks well handicapped.

Form: 12U/543-

Bernardelli^p²⁵⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 126| CD

17/2

C&D winner who had his ideal conditions (soft/heavy ground; 2m4f trip) when scoring at Ayr in March 2018; only seen once since then (turned in a rusty display). Returns off a significant absence again, suspicion is that he'll need the run.

Form: P4441/5-

Instant Replay^p³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 122

11/2

Winner at Sedgefield earlier in the year off a 5lb lower mark; returned there recently to produce another good performance (just failed to reel in a runaway leader). Off the same mark here so has potential to go one better with the yard in top form.

Form: 22150-2

Western Rules^p¹⁹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 121| CD

7/1

Looks the more-fancied runner of the two from this yard; given a simple task when winning over C&D in January (favourite fell early). Consistent enough since then in this sphere; could probably do with a stiffer test of stamina than he'll get here.

Form: 231334-

Pookie Pekan¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 116| BF

5/1

Appreciated the respite from the handicapper when scoring at Carlisle in March (2m4f, well supported, kept errors to a minimum). Shaped well on return over the same C&D against one who was well-in/from a yard in good form; in the mix off same mark.

Form: 25741-2

Well Above Par⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 112

8/1

Continued below form last time returning from a break having not really lived up to the form of his Hexham (2m4f, soft) win last December. Made a bad mistake last time and hard to make a case for given how competitive this race is.

Form: 12745-P

Forecasts

Pookie Pekan (5/1), Instant Replay (11/2), Clan Legend (11/2), Western Rules (7/1), Well Above Par (8/1), Slanelough (8/1), Dieg Man (8/1), Bernardelli (17/2), Acdc (16/1), Beau Sancy (22/1)

Hard to rule many of these out although one or two are going to have to brush up on their jumping technique if they are to play a part in the finish. Dieg Man would be one of those that would fall into that category and although he’s still unexposed over fences this test may just be too much for him. Instant Replay finished second in his only chase run here and if he can transfer his Sedgefield form, he’s a major player along with Pookie Pekan although he would have to jump with more alacrity than he did last time. CLAN LEGEND has a very good record fresh and with his yard going well plus a 1-1 record over fences here he’s sure to go close in hotly contested race.