13:30 Warwick

Tuesday 31 December 2019

All12:2512:5513:3014:0014:3515:1015:40

Local Parking Security Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 4m 19.0s

Comber Mill^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: L Treadwell| T: A Ralph| OR: 99| D

9/2

Fairly modest sort over fences but looks to have worked his way back to form of late and did well in a better grade handicap than this last time. Hassled for the lead on that occasion he did well to stay on to take fourth, player in this grade.

Form: 631-934

Joly Maker²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 96| D

8/1

Built on some eye-catching earlier chasing efforts back from a break when winning at Southwell (2m, heavy) when well supported. Hasn't quite matched that form since but hard to rule out off this mark, can't be ruled out of calculations.

Form: 651349

By Rail^b⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J M Quinlan| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 94| D

16/1

Came back to form around this time last year when winning a 2m chase at Fakenham off a 5lb higher mark. Failed to match that form since over obstacles having been seen plying his trade on the Flat of late; first chase run since the summer.

Form: 4135-P0

Battleofthesomme^p³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 94| BF| D

7/2

Landed some tidy wagers on stable debut at Southwell before following up off the same lenient mark at Uttoxeter over hurdles. Found his purple patch coming to an abrupt end when pulled up over 2m4f last time; bounce back needed back to 2m.

Form: 9PP-11P

Very Live^b²³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 93| D

7/2

Looked to have gone off the boil for his former yard (pulled up when last seen in May); has joined a barn in excellent form though so needs watching in the market. Can be a touch unreliable but only 1lb above his last winning mark; of interest.

Form: 7P106-P

Lightentertainment^b1³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: F Brennan| OR: 90| CD

16/1

Won this last year and has slid back down to the same mark having only been seen three times since taking this contest. Pulled up last time and raced indolently so comes with risks but does at least have some history on his side.

Form: 35/1P4-P

Seeanythingyoulike^h³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 88

9/2

Yet to win a race he's now 0-6 over fences and starting to look a little expensive to follow despite appearing to be in good heart. Looked a little unlucky at Taunton last time and is well handicapped but doesn't come without some risk.

Form: 4/723F4

Dun Bay Creek^p⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: David Noonan| T: R Brotherton| OR: 81

50/1

Finally managed to finish a race last time sent chasing for the first time but looked way out of his depth in a C&D novice (started 150-1). Will find this a bit more to his liking but still hard to make a case for him troubling the principals.

Form: P6-PPP6

Agentleman²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: K Yeoman⁽⁷⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 80

8/1

Quirky sort who is hard to win with although he often flatters to deceive and certainly displayed that trait last time at Leicester. 9lb below his last winning mark he's undoubtedly well handicapped but is a hard one to trust to get the job done.

Form: 477522

Hume Lough^p¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: S-J Davies| OR: 75

25/1

Made little impact for this yard so far and is still searching for that elusive first win (0-13 overall). Back over fences after trying hurdles unsuccessfully last time; hard to construct a solid case for his chance and best watched.

Form: F4/3-456

St Merryn⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: J E Moore| T: B R Summers| OR: 72

16/1

Won a very weak Stratford handicap chase last time out from 5lb out of the handicap but looked all out at the finish. Out of the weights again here but only to the tune of 1lb; this looks a stronger contest, surprising if he can follow up.

Form: P-54741

Forecasts

Battleofthesomme (7/2), Very Live (7/2), Seeanythingyoulike (9/2), Comber Mill (9/2), Agentleman (8/1), Joly Maker (8/1), St Merryn (16/1), Lightentertainment (16/1), By Rail (16/1), Hume Lough (25/1), Dun Bay Creek (50/1)

An intriguing contest with last year’s winner Lightentertainment returning off the same mark with blinkers on for the first-time having been lightly-raced in the interim, he looked rather awkward last time but could bounce back. Battleofrthesomme and Agentleman both have something to prove in different ways and the latter would need to show more gumption in his finishing effort to be successful. Seeanythingyoulike is proving a frustrating sort for his backers to follow and he may have to settle for another placing here. COMBER MILL will be seen at his best if he get a relatively easy time upfront on a course that suits those ridden positively he looks the pick of the bunch here.