14:15 Market Rasen

Thursday 26 December 2019

All12:0512:3513:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

Clugston Lincolnshire National Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 7m 42.70s

Trio For Rio^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex| OR: 128

7/2

Dual point winner; also won twice over hurdles last season (2m7f/3m). Well beaten on chasing debut but ran well at Chepstow (2m7½f, soft) earlier this month, beaten 9½L into third. Has to prove stamina for this trip but has more to come over fences.

Form: 5241-53

Le Reve^b²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 127| C

6/1

Admirable veteran who won Surrey National (3m5f) and Grand Military Gold Cup (3m) earlier this year. Not badly handicapped on those efforts and, although he was slightly disappointing at Sandown (3m) recently, is dangerous with confirmed stamina.

Form: 1148-35

Zerachiel^p³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 122| D

9/1

Still 10lb above his last winning mark but is 1lb below when runner-up in this race 12 months ago. Form has been a mixed bag since his last win in March 2018, failing to complete in three of his five runs. Cheekpieces back on and not ruled out.

Form: 1/U2P8-U

Bells Of Ailsworth^t,v²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Price⁽⁵⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 122

25/1

Can be given a chance on his best form from 2017/2018 (now back on last winning mark). Off the track for 472 days before returning in July and his four outings since then have been disappointing, including when refusing to race at Warwick.

Form: 3P/55PU

Very First Time³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton| OR: 122

9/4

Joined this yard earlier in the year and has come back to form, winning easily at Southwell (3m) and Catterick (3m1f) in recent weeks. Up 17lb but won off 2lb higher two years ago and is a strong contender for last year's winning trainer.

Form: 76-5311

Boric^p²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Callum Bewley| T: S Waugh| OR: 112

14/1

Shown his best form over marathon trips (won up to 3m6f). Returned from a year off with a spin over hurdles before finishing third at Sedgefield (3m2½f) 20 days ago. Longer trip will suit and will keep plugging on but vulnerable to younger rivals.

Form: 4/223-73

Hugo 'n Taz^t¹⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 112WS

5/1

1/19 under rules in Ireland (0/14 over fences). Plenty of form in staying chases up to 3m1f and makes his British debut for a resurgent yard having undergone a wind operation. Any market support would make him particularly noteworthy.

Form: 658-52P

Achill Road Boy^b¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 110

16/1

May well have won the Norfolk National at Fakenham (3m5f, good) in May but for falling at the last when leading. Ran poorly in four starts since over hurdles and fences and also never won off a mark this high. Would be a surprise victor.

Form: 2U-F65P

Cyclop^p,t³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: James Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 108| CD

8/1

Won this race in 2017 but a spell in the doldrums followed last season. Has ran well in two hurdle runs in recent weeks (2m7½f/3m1f) and is now 9lb lower than when successful two years ago and looks to have been laid out for a second success.

Form: PU/PP-53

Forecasts

Very First Time (9/4), Trio For Rio (7/2), Hugo 'n Taz (5/1), Le Reve (6/1), Cyclop (8/1), Zerachiel (9/1), Boric (14/1), Achill Road Boy (16/1), Bells Of Ailsworth (25/1)

Plenty of runners won't fail for stamina in this line-up and that includes 2017 winner CYCLOP. He is well handicapped on that success (9lb lower) and this looks to have been the plan after two fair runs over hurdles. Very First Time has come back to something near his best for the Skelton's and, at the age of seven, still may not have reached his peak whilst Le Reve will appreciate the drop in grade and step back up trip judging on his 3m5f victory earlier in the year. Hugo 'n Taz should be noted if strong in the betting.