15:45 Leicester

Saturday 28 December 2019

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

Old Year Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 4m 25.3s

Little Light^p³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 112WS

11/2

Drops in trip after contesting decent races over 2m4f the last twice, including an EBF Mares Novices' Chase at Huntingdon (2m4f; good to soft) last month. This is a drop in grade, and she is only a five-year-old so retains potential.

Form: 5-15274

Robin Des Mana⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr P York⁽⁵⁾| T: P York| OR: 111| D

9/1

Regained the winning thread taking advantage of a reduced mark to secure his first win over fences at Ffos Las (2m; soft) over a month ago. Raised 6lb by the handicapper but likely to remain competitive if in similar form.

Form: 4-66651

Away For Slates^h²⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 111

12/1

Makes seasonal reappearance and although he did notch a hat-trick last season he was well-handicapped to do so. Ended his campaign on a sour note when pulled-up at Perth (2m4f; good to soft). Now has something to prove.

Form: 21115P-

Delface^b³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 110| D

2/1

Not a frequent winner but difficult to knock his consistency, which was shown again when he was runner-up at Hereford (2m; soft) on just his second chase start. Front-pair drew almost 30-length clear of the third so a 5lb rise is fair.

Form: 346332

Finnegan's Garden²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 106| C| D

5/1

Returned to winning ways when successful in a higher grade at Lingfield (2m4f; heavy) at the start of the month over further. Been raised 3lb for that to a career-high mark but looks one of the more likeable contenders.

Form: 111-P31

Mistercobar^t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: David England| T: O Murphy| OR: 102

8/1

Still chasing his first win under rules after 11 starts. Jumping needs to improve after he finished a well-beaten fourth at Bangor (2m1f; heavy) recently. Dropped a further 3lb for that disappointment, but needs to do much more.

Form: 3826-64

Canny Tom^t¹⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Ben Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: D Frankland| OR: 91| D

6/1

Makes return from 149-day break and was last seen finishing an 18-length third at Stratford (2m6f; good to soft) at the start of August. Not won since October 2017 though, and others seem wholly more convincing.

Form: 62-4633

Torrent Des Mottes^p,t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: J R Cornwall| OR: 81| D

12/1

Modest strike-rate (1-23). Not progressed since winning over fences at the second attempt back in March. Been dropped a further 3lb for his most recent run when a distant sixth over C&D.

Form: 544576

Non-Runners

Comber Mill¹⁸

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: A Ralph J: Non Runner

Hope's Wishes³⁴

Weight: 10-12| Age: 9

T: F Brennan J: Dave Crosse

Forecasts

Delface (2/1), Finnegan's Garden (5/1), Little Light (11/2), Canny Tom (6/1), Mistercobar (8/1), Comber Mill (8/1), Robin Des Mana (9/1), Away For Slates (12/1), Torrent Des Mottes (12/1), Hope's Wishes (14/1)

Despite not showing a great deal on either of her two starts over fences to date, it is likely we are still to see the best of Little Light who takes a drop in grade/trip after having a recent wind operation. At the other end of the age scale, the admirable course scorer Finnegan's Garden showed he still has what it takes to win at the age of 10 when scoring at Lingfield earlier this month. A 3lb rise for that success seems fair and he should be bang there. The selection is DELFACE though who improved upon his seasonal return to action when a narrow second on just his second chase start last month. He can get off the mark at the third attempt over the bigger obstacles.