16:40 Ludlow

Wednesday 19 February 2020

All13:5514:2615:0015:3116:0516:4017:10

Fairway Cafe Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 4m 16.20s

Bathiva³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 107

8/1

Best effort over hurdles when short-head second to Purple King in maiden at Stratford on debut. Unplaced on handicap bow last time, but not seen to best effect, and is immediately switched to fences. Not dismissed out of hand.

Form: 34-2347

Oxwich Bay¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 102| BF

2/1

Has ironed out the jumping woes of last season seemingly and pleasing second at Taunton (2m2f, soft, heavy in places) behind well-handicapped winner (miles clear of the rest); good chance from 1lb lower mark.

Form: 5-6U242

Hickey's Rock^t¹⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 100

25/1

Decent 8L fifth in first time cheekpieces (absent here) in a 2m handicap hurdle at Tramore (good) in August but disappointed on soft going over an extended 2m2f at Ballinrobe later that month. Switches to fences on debut for a new yard.

Form: 5-P385P

Demopolis^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 100

5/2

French hurdles winner produced his best effort for this trainer at Exeter last month (fourth of 15) in first-time tongue-tie (retained) and could be an improver now going chasing.

Form: 080-P94

All Is Good^p,t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: R Dickin| OR: 99| D

6/1

Hereford hurdles winner in January 2018, lots to find with Oxwich Bay based on this month's Taunton meeting.

Form: 2P2-5P5

Sam Chisolm^p,t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Lee Edwards| T: S-J Davies| OR: 95

20/1

Maiden, starting to go backwards in this headgear combo when unseating late on at Uttoxeter recently, sliding mark but needs to raise his game.

Form: 3P6-65U

Debden Bank⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 95

20/1

Full-brother to yard's useful if quirky hurdler Buckle Street, but this gelding has looked limited over hurdles, and his mark is stiff now handicapping and trying fences for the first time.

Form: 97-459

Cobra Commander⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: David Noonan| T: T Symonds| OR: 74

12/1

Very limited over hurdles and similar fate on chase bow at Leicester (2m, good to soft) in December; all to prove at the moment.

Form: P59-005

Way Of The World^b²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 72

11/1

Won just once from 31 starts and was pulled up in a 3m handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (heavy) on his latest start; others make more appeal racing from out of the handicap on his return to fences.

Form: 3-5685P

Best Director⁶⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Miss L Brooke⁽⁷⁾| T: J Groucott| OR: 68

33/1

Finished 22L second in a Novices' Handicap Chase over C&D in December, easily his best effort under rules. Trailed home on heavy ground at Bangor following month over 2m4f and doesn't appear one to fall in love with from 8lb out of the handicap.

Form: 51/3-526

Forecasts

Oxwich Bay (2/1), Demopolis (5/2), All Is Good (6/1), Bathiva (8/1), Way Of The World (11/1), Cobra Commander (12/1), Debden Bank (20/1), Sam Chisolm (20/1), Hickey's Rock (25/1), Best Director (33/1)

OXWICH BAY had a thankless task conceding lumps of weight to a well-handicapped rival at Taunton 17 days ago. He was no match for the winner but came home a long way clear of the remainder and, from 1lb lower, can go a place better now. Chase debutants Bathiva and Demopolis could well be the ones to give him most to think about.