Luke Watson Memorial Racing Excellence 'Hands And Heels' Handicap Chase (Conditionals/Amateurs)

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 6m 24.9s

Fort Gabriel⁵²³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Callum McKinnes| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 117| D

16/1

Bold jumping, front-running chaser; progressive during the summer of 2017 winning three on the spin at Fontwell, Ffos Las and Newton Abbot (3m-3m2f); is most effective on a sound surface; first competitive start for 523 days.

Form: 25/2138-

Lisdoonvarna Lad³²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Buckley| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 117

3/1

An infrequent winner (1-13); that said, he's run reasonably well on all three starts this season; competes off the same mark as when a keeping on second (beaten 6L) to Dubai Angel at Wetherby (3m, soft) 32 days ago.

Form: 0F0-572

Private Malone^v³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Platt⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 115| D

7/1

Maiden over fences (0-15); now 8lb lower than when beaten 1½L by Bally Longford at Newbury (2m6½f, soft) in March 2018; ran his best race for a while when placed at Lingfield (2m4f, heavy) in early December.

Form: 26/UP-P3

Big Difference⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Luca Morgan| T: B Pauling| OR: 111

9/2

Far from faultless (made mistakes) on his chasing debut at Market Rasen (3m, heavy) in November; should strip fitter for that run and is a lightly raced hurdles winner; stablemate of Hidden Glen.

Form: 50/971-3

Hidden Glen^p1⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Tudor| T: B Pauling| OR: 110

14/1

Fortunate winner of a four-runner 2m5f novices' hurdle at Kempton (good) in October 2018; still low-mileage, albeit disappointing since (including on chasing debut); cheekpieces are now applied; stablemate of Big Difference.

Form: 97/71-6P

First Figaro^b⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: N F Houlihan| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 107

11/1

No win since November 2018 (Hereford) and remains a maiden over the larger obstacles (0-5); reeled in close home by the rallying Beautiful Ben at Market Rasen (2m3f, good) three starts back; stamina reserves aren't guaranteed at 3m.

Form: 637254

Bolving²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Bryan Carver| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 98

6/4

Is yet to win over fences (0-6) although he has shown that he can compete from a mark in the high 90's; kept on to finish third to a stablemate of First Figaro (Cuban Pete) on his penultimate start (Hereford, 2m5f good).

Form: 6434-36

Forecasts

Bolving (6/4), Lisdoonvarna Lad (3/1), Big Difference (9/2), Private Malone (7/1), First Figaro (11/1), Hidden Glen (14/1), Fort Gabriel (16/1)

This hands and heels contest for inexperienced riders (over fences) makes very little appeal as a betting medium with a whole host of difficult to win with horses in the line-up. The front-running, sound jumping FORT GABRIEL is more effective on a sound surface, and has a significant 523-day absence to overcome but as a much safer conveyance than the majority he's potentially worth risking. Private Malone hasn't completed too often in recent times and First Figaro isn't guaranteed to stay 3m, so the main threat may emerge via the Tom Buckley-ridden Lisdoonvarna Lad.