13:20 Chepstow

Friday 31 January 2020

All13:2013:5014:2014:5515:2516:0016:30

M & G Plant Hire Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 6m 35.0s

Marble Moon²³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 122| D

33/1

Generally a reliable sort who goes well at Ludlow; needs to put a below par effort last time out behind him and will probably be inconvenienced by very testing conditions; look elsewhere.

Form: 411396

Snuff Box^p1³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 122

9/1

Just the one place to show for his six chase starts to date, not progressing as he should and was on the retreat when falling at Exeter last time; probably handles heavy ground but needs to dig in better in the finish; first-time cheekpieces applied

Form: 0266-4F

Sizing Cusimano³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 118

9/2

Has taken well to chasing after a useful career over hurdles; two placed efforts in his last three runs suggests he may be ready to win a race of this standard and looks reasonably weighted though testing ground may be a concern.

Form: 1PP-363

Seaston Spirit^b³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 117| D

7/2

Shed his maiden tag over fences at the seventh attempt in some style when scoring by 13-length at Lingfield (2m7f; heavy) in December and followed that up under revised weight next time at Uttoxeter; tough ask to land a hat-trick up 10lbs.

Form: 3-95411

Springfield Fox²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 117| BF| D

7/1

3-3 in point-to-points but made frustrating Rules debut when stumbled and fell after 3 out at Bangor in staying novice hurdle in November; two placed efforts in hurdles since but this looks tough on his chase debut.

Form: 111-F22

Beyondthestorm⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 116| D

9/4

Cost £150,000 out of the Irish point-to-point scene (Dec 2017); raced sparingly since without things necessarily clicking into place; fair effort on this track on penultimate start; market watch advised on chase and handicap debut.

Form: 1/6-48

Tea Time On Mars³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 112

5/1

Took advantage of a step down in trip last time to score well enough at Exeter last time out and although upped in the weights, should give a good account of himself for stable beginning to hit a bit of form.

Form: 881-631

Steel Express¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: M G Nolan| T: Miss L Blackford| OR: 97

20/1

Made little impact on his belated seasonal/chase debut when mid division here earlier this month; should be sharper for the run, though; needs to be a little quicker at his fences this time; whipped round and unseated rider last time at Exeter.

Form: 022-88U

Forecasts

Beyondthestorm (9/4), Seaston Spirit (7/2), Sizing Cusimano (9/2), Tea Time On Mars (5/1), Springfield Fox (7/1), Snuff Box (9/1), Steel Express (20/1), Marble Moon (33/1)

SIZING CUSIMANO has been slowly getting the hang of things over fences and is taken to get off the mark in a race with few obvious winners. There was plenty to like about his performance last time out at Taunton doing his best work in the closing stages. The ground may be a slight concern but stamina should be no problem. Seaston Spirit will have his supporters as he goes in search of a hat-trick. He is certainly in good form but another prohibitive rise in the weights may see his winning streak come to an end. Beyondthestorm is well regarded and while he has struggled slightly over hurdles, he may come into his own now sent chasing for the first time.