12:30 Wetherby

Thursday 26 December 2019

All11:5512:3013:0013:3514:1014:4515:20

888Sport Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:30 | Winning time: 7m 6.4s

Imperial Nemesis²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 104

5/1

Yet to win under rules and made a poor seasonal return - and first start since wind surgery - when 22L sixth in 2m Market Rasen handicap hurdle earlier this month. On a high enough mark for chasing debut.

Form: 2/476P-6

Overworkdunderpaid^p,t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 102| D

11/2

Slightly inconsistent sort who is yet to win under rules. Put in two poor efforts so far this season, including 39L defeat over 3m at Huntingdon last time out. Has plenty of questions to answer now.

Form: U430-F6

Minella Examiner^p1¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Cook| T: W Greatrex| OR: 100

20/1

Best piece of form came when third in 2m4f Southwell handicap hurdle on his penultimate start but bombed out when 10th on chase debut at Taunton (2m7f) earlier this month. Needs more now.

Form: 2/57-930

Monbeg Aquadude^b²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: M Scudamore| OR: 100| D

9/2

Beat a smart horse on his point-to-point start in 2015 but hasn't lived up to expectations since. Yet to fire since long injury layoff and needs to improve on Lingfield effort (3m) last time out.

Form: 15/8-8P4

Bene Regina¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: N Kent| OR: 95| D

12/1

Dual winner in the point-to-point sphere but generally regressive since. Finished a one-paced fourth over 2m4f here last time out and step up to 3m may not suit as hoped. Best watched.

Form: 13/485-4

Madera Mist²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 94| D

8/1

Winner of an Irish point-to-point but hasn't made the cut under rules so far and was recently seen finishing 15L third in 2m7f Bangor handicap hurdle last month. Is on a nice mark for chasing debut however.

Form: 12-5653

Commanding Spirit^p¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 87| D

18/1

Modest performer in point-to-points for previous yard but not returned in best form since mammoth layoff. Too early to tell when falling over C&D on latest start but best to looks elsewhere.

Form: 42/35-7F

Hard Knocks^p,t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 82

4/1

Usually seen to his best effect over this distance but arguably ran career best when good second over 2m4f here last time out. Has gone up 3lb for that but still leaves him on a workable mark.

Form: 2687-62

Sigurd^b,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 82

15/2

Slid down the handicap this season and ran his best race for some time when third at Market Rasen two starts ago before slightly disappointing at that track (3m) last time out. Needs to build on that effort.

Form: 6P4534

Mid Day Gun^b1²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: L Treadwell| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 80

14/1

13 race maiden who pulled up in 3m handicap chase at Market Rasen (soft) on latest start. Used to run well off higher marks in the past and blinkers are now turned to in a bid for a revival.

Form: 2674-5P

Non-Runners

Lough Salt⁵⁴

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: R C Guest J: L P Aspell

Definite Wisdom¹⁹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: R Dobbin J: Craig Nichol

Forecasts

Definite Wisdom (7/2), Hard Knocks (4/1), Monbeg Aquadude (9/2), Imperial Nemesis (5/1), Overworkdunderpaid (11/2), Sigurd (15/2), Madera Mist (8/1), Lough Salt (8/1), Bene Regina (12/1), Mid Day Gun (14/1), Commanding Spirit (18/1), Minella Examiner (20/1)

A race where winning form is sparse at best, preference is for DEFINITE WISDOM, who despite being a quirky sort looked to stage a revival with a narrow defeat here last time. While his tendency to hang is a concern this looks a weak enough race for him to capitalise on. Hard Knocks ran a fine race here last time too and remains well handicapped compared to others, while the likes of Madera Mist and Monbeg Aquadude have fallen onto nice enough marks but may need slightly more on ratings to be competitive.