14:40 Leicester

Saturday 28 December 2019

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:45

Leicestershire Silver Fox Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 5m 30.4s

Eureu Du Boulay^t³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 125

11/4

Ran in France the last twice, and cruised clear of his rivals when winning at Fontainebleau (2m5f; heavy). Difficult to assess the strength of that form though, and he was in poor form when last seen on these shores.

Form: 2P-97P1

Florrie Knox²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryony Frost| T: A M Hales| OR: 123

7/2

Stable are operating at a 50% strike-rate currently (4-8 in the last 14 days), and this is a fair bit easier than the stiff task he was set on chase debut at Bangor (2m4f; heavy). Must jump more fluently though.

Form: 12/45-53

Night Of Sin²⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Chester Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 121| CD

6/1

Makes his return to action after enjoying a productive season over fences when last seen. Was a C&D winner back in February, but was unsuccessful when attempting to land the hat-trick. Could resume progress in what is an open race.

Form: 367114-

Truckers Highway^h,t⁴⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Alex Edwards⁽⁵⁾| T: J Groucott| OR: 119| C| D

16/1

10-year-old who won at this track back in 2015. Showed he retains all his enthusiasm when winning at Uttoxeter (2m; soft) three starts ago. Not as good in two subsequent starts and he has never won off a mark as high as this before.

Form: F82-145

Prairie Town^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Lee Edwards| T: A W Carroll| OR: 117

16/1

Ran a stormer on return to action when runner-up at Kempton (2m2f; good) and then wasn't disgraced at Sandown (2m; good to soft). Is now 1lb below his last wining mark, and despite looking vulnerable to improvers he holds a solid chance.

Form: 6540-24

Belargus²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: W T Kennedy| T: N J Gifford| OR: 121

8/1

Dropped a further 2lb for recent effort at Southwell (2m; soft). Not fully exposed after just the two starts over fences, and he is only a four-year-old. Needs to offer a fair bit more encouragement before faith is placed into him though.

Form: 61-9744

Glance Back^t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Jamie Bargary| T: Mrs E Bishop| OR: 108| C| D

6/1

Tasted success for the first time in almost a year when demolishing his opposition at Southwell (2m4f; soft) to score by 25-length. Has been put up 8lb by the handicapper to a career-high mark but should remain competitive.

Form: 2333-01

Virnon²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: William Humphrey⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 107| D

25/1

Was in good form around this time last year, but all four runs in 2019 have been devoid of any promise. Mark is beginning to drop to a favourable one, but recent fifth at Sedgefield (2m5f; soft) suggests he is not ready to take advantage of that.

Form: 12P-U45

Knocknamona³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 98| CD

8/1

Struggling for form recently and was a distant last of four of those that finished at Wetherby (2m5f; soft) recently. 5lb below last winning mark, but doesn't look like taking advantage of that at the moment and yard are out of form.

Form: F6-7774

Forecasts

Eureu Du Boulay (11/4), Florrie Knox (7/2), Glance Back (6/1), Night Of Sin (6/1), Belargus (8/1), Knocknamona (8/1), Prairie Town (16/1), Truckers Highway (16/1), Virnon (25/1)

After hosing up at Southwell, Glance Back is likely to prove a popular choice for punters. However, he must defy an 8lb rise for that success and has never won off a mark as high this before. He therefore has a bit to prove, as does Florrie Knox who enters calculations dropped in grade to a more realistic level, though he will need to improve his jumping if he is to feature. The unexposed Night Of Sin was a C&D winner last season. He could have further progress in him as he makes his seasonal comeback. A chance is taken on PRAIRIE TOWN though whose recent fourth at Sandown is respectable handicap form and reads well in this weaker race on paper.