15:15 Ffos Las

Thursday 30 January 2020

All13:3514:1014:4515:1515:4516:20

Best Western Diplomat Hotel & Spa Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 5m 36.30s

Driftwood Haze³⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: P C Dando| OR: 122| C

6/1

Veteran looking for a first win over the larger obstacles in four starts. May have been over-whelmed on his latest start in a class 2 contest at Chepstow over Christmas and will be better suited in this company.

Form: 17-5329

Keep Wondering^t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Dave Crosse| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 120| BF

3/1

Won an Irish point-yo-point at the third attempt in March. 120-rated over hurdles the Scorpion gelding may need this run on chasing debut.

Form: 2S1-233

Twasn't The Plan^h,t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 115

8/1

Consistent sort who has been shaping well in a number of runs over fences but is still looking for a breakthrough success in six starts with initial promise appearing to be leveling out.

Form: 222264

Bonne Question¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: R T Dunne| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 112| C

8/1

Winner of two of his 16 starts over hurdles. Well held in a number of starts since March but a switch to the larger obstacles may rekindle enthusiasm.

Form: 125-625

The Gipper^p¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 110| C

9/2

Has started to put together an encouraging run of form in a couple of starts at Chepstow and Lingfield since the turn of the year. Up in trip but has a number of conditions to suit.

Form: 693522

Never Equalled^b³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 110| C

9/1

Winner over hurdles at this venue in November on soft ground. Without success in six starts over fences and hasn't looked a winner in waiting in this division for some time.

Form: 2-5U146

Arcade Attraction⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 109

5/1

Early promise of a couple of hurdling efforts 12 months ago have appeared to dissipate in a number of below-par performances since May. Hard to make a case for.

Form: 33-P587

Robin Of Sherwood¹⁹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: J E Moore| T: D A Rees| OR: 93

14/1

Well held on chasing debut over C&D in June and switches back to fences following a couple of desperate efforts over hurdles last July. Needs to take a big step forward to get competitive in this company.

Form: 1P-1635

Forecasts

Keep Wondering (3/1), The Gipper (9/2), Arcade Attraction (5/1), Driftwood Haze (6/1), Twasn't The Plan (8/1), Bonne Question (8/1), Never Equalled (9/1), Robin Of Sherwood (14/1)

Trainer Evan Williams saddles 10 runners at this meeting today and can prepare a winner in the shape of THE GIPPER. The 10-year-old son of King's Theatre can get off the mark at the eighth time of asking for connections at the expense of the Phillip Hobbs-trained Keep Wondering on chasing introduction here. Veterans, Driftwood Haze and Bonne Question can both give a good account while the Tim Vaughan-trained Twasn't The Plan should not be taken lightly.