14:30 Leicester

Wednesday 11 December 2019

All13:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

Holly Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 5m 23.9s

Midnight Maestro^v1⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 126

9/1

A three-time winner over hurdles but is 0-10 over fences. Was second of six at Uttoxeter (2m4f) two runs back, however, he was pulled up last time at Market Rasen (2m5½f). Will wear a visor for the first time.

Form: 35542P

Chambard³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 126

9/4

Won a 2m1f maiden hurdle at Exeter in January and held form afterwards, runner-up behind smart Champagne Court (won again next time) in Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at Sandown last month. More to come.

Form: 21223-2

Cilaos Glace³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 125

7/2

Came good in the spring with hurdles wins at Fontwell (2m1½f) and Chepstow (2m) with cut in the ground. Needs to improve from chase debut at Chepstow last month to have designs on this prize.

Form: 47611-8

Don't Ask³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: W Greatrex| OR: 124

12/1

Novice hurdle winner at Taunton (2m3f, good) in April 2018 but has achieved very little since (two runs over hurdles) and was pulled up last month on chase debut.

Form: 321/0F-P

Town Parks²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 124| BF| D

5/1

2-14 over fences, though without success since January 2018. Didn't build on Stratford reappearance when well fended off at Hereford last month but capable from this mark.

Form: B223-54

Boldmere³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: James Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 123

13/2

50-1 and pulled up on last month's stable/chase introduction at Huntingdon (2m4f, good); may be sharper for the run but others appeal more.

Form: 96192-P

Tanarpino^v²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 122| D

14/1

2-17 over fences, scoring most recently at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) in March from 3lb higher mark. Plenty to work no after laboured efforts at Stratford and back at Uttoxeter recently.

Form: 5-54404

Holbrook Park^t²⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: Tom Clover| OR: 122| D

16/1

Most recent success at Plumpton in April 2018, a third win over fences, failed to complete in three starts earlier in the year and has changed hands since.

Form: 1/24PRP-

Non-Runners

Meldrum Lad⁴⁷

Weight: 11-7| Age: 10

T: Justin Landy J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien

Forecasts

Chambard (9/4), Cilaos Glace (7/2), Town Parks (5/1), Meldrum Lad (6/1), Boldmere (13/2), Midnight Maestro (9/1), Don't Ask (12/1), Tanarpino (14/1), Holbrook Park (16/1)

He wasn't foot perfect at Sandown last month but CHAMBARD showed enough to suggest he'll be winning over fences before too long and that form is solid with the winner having come out and scored again since. Town Parks is on a workable mark if finding his best, while Meldrum Lad should be better suited reverting to chasing having been pulled up in a competitive Cheltenham handicap over timber last month.