15:30 Huntingdon

Sunday 8 December 2019

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

Fitzdares Award Ben Stokes SPOTY Now Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:32 | Winning time: 6m 10.5s

Crossley Tender¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson| OR: 107| BF| D

13/2

Has improved for the switch to fences, getting off the mark at Plumpton (3m1½f, heavy) last month before running well when second at Wincanton (3m1f, good) last time. This is a slight drop in grade but may prefer a stiffer test. Respected.

Form: 258-U12

Overworkdunderpaid^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 106| D

11/1

Showed some fair form over hurdles but has yet to win under Rules (finished alone when winning Irish point-to-point). Mixed bag of performances over fences (failed to complete on three of his last six); plenty of questions to answer now.

Form: FU430-F

Ballycrystal Court^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 105WS

20/1

Ran in snatches but did enough to score at Market Rasen (2m5½f, good) in August. Has finished in the ruck on both starts since at Kelso (2m5½f) and Kempton (3m). Had wind surgery since to add to his tongue-tie and cheekpieces.

Form: 3-36165

Itsamanslife^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 105| CD

14/1

Won over C&D on chase debut in January (off 7lb lower). Uneven form since then but has a chance on his second at Bangor (3m) two runs ago. Tailed off at Exeter (3m) last time after jumping poorly. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 415P-27

Brigadier Bob^b²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 105| CD

9/2

C&D winner in October, he won again at Hereford (3m1f, soft) last time in first-time blinkers (retained). Up 13lb for those two victories but this only his fifth run over fences and in better form than most coming into this race.

Form: P5-21P1

Thomas Shelby⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 103| D

20/1

Showed ability for Alan King before joining these connections and winning on pointing debut in January. Sent off at 17/2 he was struggling early on seasonal debut at Southwell (3m) six weeks ago but may come on for that effort.

Form: 73/123-P

Copperfacejack^t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: P R Webber| OR: 102| D

33/1

Back on the same mark as when winning at Hereford (3m1f) just over a year ago but hasn't won since as was beaten 48L bidding to follow-up there 11 days ago. Has the ability on a going day but hard to be enthusiastic with recent form.

Form: P1P65-6

Oscar Ceremony^p,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: R Johnson| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 101| BF

9/2

Won well on second chase start at Kelso (2m7½f, good to soft) two runs ago before finishing over that C&D last time, albeit on heavy ground which may not have suited. Drier conditions here will suit and first-runner at the track for the yard.

Form: 043312

Cap Horner^b1³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: James Best| T: J W Mullins| OR: 96| D

20/1

A winner off 1lb lower at Fontwell (3m2f) in March, he was second off 4lb higher at Wincanton (3m1f) shortly afterwards. In the doldrums since, however, beaten 30L two runs ago before pulling last time. Others preferred.

Form: 162-40P

Arthur's Reuben^p,t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: David Noonan| T: J Candlish| OR: 88| CD

8/1

Has a fair record at this course, with his only win coming over C&D in January off 2lb lower. Isn't the most reliable but seemingly took a step back in the right direction at Southwell (3m) last time and has an each-way squeak.

Form: 133F-63

Stonebrigg Legend¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 79

3/1

Dual Fakenham winner last season (both 2m5f) and returned from a break when second over hurdles (3m1f) here 15 days ago. Is generally consistent and is off her last winning mark so has to be shortlisted.

Form: 3115-62

Is Love Alive^p,t³¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: James Davies| T: A Wintle| OR: 76| CD

50/1

Wore first-time blinkers when winning over C&D last Boxing Day by a short-head. Disappointed in two subsequent outings and the blinkers are replaced by cheekpieces. Vulnerable to less exposed rivals and 3lb out of the handicap.

Form: P5/P16U-

Grayhawk^t³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: J E Moore| T: Mrs D Grissell| OR: 64| D

100/1

Took second spot in four-runner Fontwell handicap in April;that remains easily his best outcome in 15 starts over fences. Tailed off again last time out and is 15lb out of the handicap.

Form: F762-74

Forecasts

Stonebrigg Legend (3/1), Brigadier Bob (9/2), Oscar Ceremony (9/2), Crossley Tender (13/2), Arthur's Reuben (8/1), Overworkdunderpaid (11/1), Itsamanslife (14/1), Thomas Shelby (20/1), Cap Horner (20/1), Ballycrystal Court (20/1), Copperfacejack (33/1), Is Love Alive (50/1), Grayhawk (100/1)

A difficult contest to end proceedings with OSCAR CEREMONY a tentative selection. He won well at Kelso before getting stuck in the mud there last time altough he still ran well, and back under these conditions, he can get involved. Brigadier Bob brings the best recent form to the table, having winning 2/4 chase starts, including over C&D whilst Arthur's Reuben likes it here and showed a little more at Southwell last time. He will be plugging on when others have cried enough.