Luke Gale: Kicking For Grassroots Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:04 | Winning time: 5m 3.7s

Some Reign³²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Dobbin| OR: 122

7/4

Has refused to race on a couple of occasions; when he does decide to race he has a certain amount of talent and is starting to look well handicapped; might not want the ground to soften too much.

Form: 3/42R42-

Elkstone⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: J E Moore| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 122| D

9/2

Hacked up over 2m4f on his penultimate start at Huntingdon in September but pulled up latest; 10lb higher for that last win and suspicion is that will stop him getting competitive.

Form: 43531P

Caltex^p,t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: L Treadwell| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 122| D

14/1

Scored over 2m3f in Ireland, and ran well when placed from a 8lb higher mark at Aintree last December; has disappointed on four starts since including falling last time out at Wetherby; something to prove but deserves respect.

Form: 2438-7F

Fiddlers Bow³²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 117| D

11/2

Wind surgery looks to have breathed new life into this ten-year-old who looks for a hat-trick after two easy wins at Ayr over different trips; those wins came in January but he has run well fresh in the past and likely to be well supported.

Form: 22/3211-

King Golan^b¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 110

11/2

Returned to form with back-to-back wins over 3m in Market Rasen and Hexham in August/September (on good ground); below par since including over hurdles and jumping let him down last time out at Newcastle; needs a big bounce back.

Form: 116464

Well Smitten¹⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 107

4/1

Can race 6lb lower than when winning a novice handicap chase at Huntingdon last December but form floundered subsequently after that win and while capable, his latest form suggests he will struggle unless break has perked him up.

Form: 4U-24U7

Forecasts

Some Reign (7/4), Well Smitten (4/1), Elkstone (9/2), Fiddlers Bow (11/2), King Golan (11/2), Caltex (14/1)

If FIDDLERS BOW can pick up where he left off last January then he looks the horse to be on in the opening contest. Following wind surgery, he won two races at Ayr in good style. He has run well fresh though such a long absence is a slight concern. Another returning from a long absence is Some Reign who shows promise when in the mood but his chances are tempered by the fact he has twice refused to race. King Golan has fitness on his side but has been below par of late. However he slowly becoming well handicapped on what he has achieved in the past.