15:20 Market Rasen

Thursday 16 January 2020

All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4515:2015:50

Racing TV Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:23 | Winning time: 5m 57.81s

Balgemmois²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen| T: A Stronge| OR: 105

11/2

Well backed when falling at the first on return to action (chasing debut) at Hereford (2m½f, heavy) in December; didn't excel back there the following week either (fifth); steps up in trip.

Form: 458/5-F5

Zen Master³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: C J Mann| OR: 105| C

11/2

Won just once in 22 starts (0-7 over fences); was bang in contention until late on at Fakenham (2m5f, good to soft) last month; it's debatable as to whether or not he merits the subsequent 2lb weights rise; has a chance.

Form: 4F4-P62

Solid Strike¹⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: Paul Collins| OR: 103

22/1

3lb higher than when justifying market confidence at Hexham (2m4f, heavy) in March 2019; may strip fitter for a recent comeback run at Catterick (pulled-up) and truthfully this won't take a great deal of winning; each-way shout?

Form: 212-35P

Out For Justice^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 103

9/2

Remains feasibly handicapped, although could require a sound racing surface in order to put his best foot forward; made the frame at Wincanton (3m1f, good) on his penultimate start; certainly enters the reckoning in a porous contest.

Form: 16P634

Cusheen Bridge^t²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: C T Pogson| OR: 103| CD

8/1

Won twice over C&D in 2016, including gamely from a mark of 125 (now rated 22lb lower); finished fourth of five to Zolfo here (2m1f, soft) on Boxing Day; does he still possess the ability at the age of 12?

Form: 383-644

Bentons Lad^p,t³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 89

10/1

Exploited a tumbling mark at Huntingdon (2m3½f, good) in October; far from convincing since - was particularly disappointing at Fakenham (2m7½f, good to soft) last month; would be a bold call if selecting.

Form: 80-1564

Sunny Ledgend⁶²¹

Age: 15| Weight: 10-7| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 86| CD

7/1

Jumped soundly when winning over C&D (heavy) in January 2016, but unfortunately for his connections we've now entered 2020 and this 15yo gelding hasn't seen any competitive action for 621 days; it would be some training performance if he prevails.

Form: 3P455/P-

Perpignan^p⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁷⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 83

4/1

11-race maiden (0-6 over fences); continues to ease in the weights - another 4lb lower than when pulling-up at Hereford (3m1f, soft) 50 days ago; it's difficult to identify too many positive angles.

Form: 65647P

Two Hoots^p,t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 81| BF

8/1

Historically has been seen to be most productive at Sedgefield (2m-2m3½f) although it's tough to enthuse over his more recent efforts - was struggling from three out when sent off 9-2jf on Boxing Day.

Form: 12-574P

Forecasts

Perpignan (4/1), Out For Justice (9/2), Balgemmois (11/2), Zen Master (11/2), Sunny Ledgend (7/1), Two Hoots (8/1), Cusheen Bridge (8/1), Bentons Lad (10/1), Solid Strike (22/1)

With three of the declared runners reaching a combined age of 39, this is anything but a strong contest full of progressive in-form horses. Of the elder statesmen Solid Strike holds outside claims of a place if stripping fitter for his Catterick comeback run. Meanwhile the 8yo Zen Master is anything but a frequent winner, and it's surely debatable as to whether or not he merits a 2lb weights rise for a fair run at Fakenham. However, despite holding reservations about the rain-softened ground the rather forced vote goes to the feasibly handicapped OUT FOR JUSTICE.