14:05 Kempton

Monday 11 November 2019

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Happy Birthday David Jones Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 35.00s

Ecu De La Noverie²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 132| BF

5/2

Kept on to chase home Ballyvic Boru on seasonal reappearance at Wetherby (1m7f, good to soft); should relish this extra three furlongs and is expected to play a major role despite a subsequent 2lb rise in the weights.

Form: 1/1232-2

Beau Bay^h,t²²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 132| D

33/1

Competes from a similar mark as to when making all for a smooth win at Wetherby (1m7f, good) in January; ended last season with a ninth placed finish in the Grade 3 Topham Chase at Aintree (2m5f, soft).

Form: 416559-

Movie Legend^p²²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 132

14/1

A model of consistency last season (12232110), earning a 7lb rise for back-to-back spring wins at Wetherby (1m7f) and Doncaster (2m½f); 5lb claimer Maxime Tissier is helpfully deployed into action on return from a 221-day absence.

Form: 232110-

Nightfly^t²³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 128

12/1

3lb higher than when beating Copper West by just over 1L at Wetherby (2m3½f, good) last November; ended last season below par over 2m4f; first competitive start for 231 days.

Form: 212405-

Vinnie The Hoddie³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 127

6/1

Gowran Park maiden hurdle winner (2m4f, good) for Joseph O'Brien; headed at the final fence when outspeeded by Oleg on seasonal reappearance at Wincanton (1m7½f, good to firm); merits ample respect from a 1lb higher mark.

Form: 16025-2

Pointed And Sharp^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 126| D

15/2

Isn't entirely straightforward, but it's impossible to knock his recent progress over fences; seeks a four-timer following wins at Fontwell (2m2f-2m3½f) and Taunton (2m); is rising sharply in the weights, and mightn't want too much more rain.

Form: 2P2111

Sao^h,t¹⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 124

11/2

Still yet to win for Paul Nicholls (0-6), although has hit the crossbar on numerous occasions over hurdles; blundered at the 12th fence when put firmly in his place by Burbank on chasing debut here (2m4f Beginners') in May.

Form: 242/72-2

Commandant^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 122

9/1

Made all, and jumped well throughout when winning over fences for Joseph O'Brien at Killarney (2m5f, good) in July; did a fraction too much early when a weakening third to Rebel Rebel on debut for Chris Gordon at Huntingdon (2m4f).

Form: U50103

Teaser^p,t³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 127

10/1

Won three on the bounce between May and July (at 2m over hurdles and fences); in contention when hitting the deck four out at Exeter (2m3½f, good) last month; needs more from this elevated mark, but shouldn't be totally dismissed.

Form: 11124F

Darebin^b²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117| D

25/1

5-22 over fences (includes a walkover at Plumpton in April); was struggling from halfway on seasonal reappearance at Fontwell (2m2f, good) and fared little better behind Adrrastos over C&D (good) three weeks ago.

Form: 2361-55

Railroad Junkie^t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 115

20/1

6lb higher than when winning at Taunton (2m, good to soft) during the festive period of 2018 - beat Broughtons Rhythm by 2¾L; disappointing so far this season, including when persistently jumping badly right at Fontwell latest.

Form: 1232-74

Prairie Town¹⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Bannister| T: A W Carroll| OR: 115

50/1

Off the track since running on the AW at Southwell in May, and hasn't won over fences since scoring at Sedgefield (2m+, soft) in January 2018 - beat today's rival Beau Bay; others are far more persuasive.

Form: 23/6540-

Un Beau Roman^h¹¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson| OR: 107| CD

20/1

Has plummeted down the weights since springing a 28-1 surprise in a Class 2 handicap at Cheltenham (2m, good) in November 2016, but is getting long in the tooth nowadays and realistically can't be fancied off a 118-day absence.

Form: 434-323

Forecasts

Ecu De La Noverie (5/2), Sao (11/2), Vinnie The Hoddie (6/1), Pointed And Sharp (15/2), Commandant (9/1), Teaser (10/1), Nightfly (12/1), Movie Legend (14/1), Railroad Junkie (20/1), Un Beau Roman (20/1), Darebin (25/1), Beau Bay (33/1), Prairie Town (50/1)

An open looking handicap chase in which the four-timer seeking Pointed And Sharp would appear to be vulnerable with further rainfall forecast (winning sequence has occurred on good ground), while a number of those declared are returning to action for their respective seasonal reappearances. Chris Gordon's Commandant is almost certain to race prominently, and should be suited by dropping back in trip around this sharp track. However, with race-fitness also assured a clear preference is for the top-weighted ECU DE LA NOVERIE who gave the distinct impression that a longer trip was a prerequisite to further success at Wetherby (1m7f) last month.