14:15 Huntingdon

Saturday 23 November 2019

All11:5512:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

Gravitas Magazine Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:17 | Winning time: 5m 19.6s

Hes No Trouble¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Ned Curtis⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 122| C

4/1

Very lightly raced, and is completely unexposed after just four starts under rules. Chasing debut didn't go to plan when he unseated his rider at Chepstow (2m; soft). Needs to jump better, but this drop in grade leaves him with major claims.

Form: 1/714-U

Jaboticaba¹⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁷⁾| T: A King| OR: 120| BF

4/1

This is his first run since May, and he has been expensive to follow the last twice finishing second at short-odds on both occasions. Should still have more to offer over fences though, so is definitely considered.

Form: D054-22

Nobel Leader²⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: L Treadwell| T: H J Evans| OR: 116| CD

6/1

Impressive C&D winner last season who makes seasonal reappearance with a career-high mark to defy. One of the more in-form contenders in the line-up, so should still have a say even if he does lack a recent run.

Form: 31/8112-

Cusheen Bridge^t⁴²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: C T Pogson| OR: 114| C| D

14/1

Stayed on in eye-catching fashion when third at Market Rasen (2m5f; good) recently when it was too late to trouble the leading pair. Needs to keep up with the pace throughout the early stages of this race, if he is to have a say.

Form: 2/49383-

First Figaro^b³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 109| BF

13/2

Underwhelming effort at Exeter (2m3f; good) last time when sent off 3-1f only to finish fifth. Would have place claims on the form of his runner-up effort at Market Rasen (2m3f; good) the time before that though.

Form: 4-63725

Vue Cavaliere^h²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: M G Nolan| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 103

7/2

Only had the two starts over fences, and the latest of those efforts was a definite step in the right direction when third at this track over 2m. Steps back up in trip now but has a bit to find on form with leading contenders.

Form: 973-363

The Premier Celtic³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: N F Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Phelan| OR: 97

6/1

Well-beaten into fifth on chase debut at Kempton (2m2f; good) last month. 3lb lower but this isn't a easier contest. Must put in a better round of jumping as well, so a watching brief is advised.

Form: 0559-85

Non-Runners

Volt Face²⁰³

Weight: 11-9| Age: 10

T: P R Webber J: W T Kennedy

Zen Master¹⁹⁹

Weight: 10-13| Age: 7

T: C J Mann J: Harry Bannister

Forecasts

Vue Cavaliere (7/2), Hes No Trouble (4/1), Jaboticaba (4/1), Nobel Leader (6/1), The Premier Celtic (6/1), First Figaro (13/2), Volt Face (7/1), Cusheen Bridge (14/1), Zen Master (14/1)

Despite the fact his jumping was a bit erratic and he got no further than the third on his chasing debut, HES NO TROUBLE should prove more than able to take advantage of this drop in grade on his second run over fences. He is far less exposed than his rivals, and should prove to be a fair bit better than a 122-rated animal in time. Next best looks to be Jaboticaba who has found one too good on each of his two chase runs so far, but should be there or thereabouts on the basis of that form. Nobel Leader also enters calculations given he is a recent winner over fences, and scored over C&D last season.