16:10 Wetherby

Wednesday 14 October 2020

All13:5214:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:1517:45

Bobby Renton Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 4m 47.9s

Ecu De La Noverie²⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 140| C| D

17/2

Did little wrong last term, bagging a 15.6f handicap chase here last November and solid efforts over hurdles on final 2 starts of the season. Resumes on a career-high mark but respected all the same.

Form: 2/23153-

Schiehallion Munro^h²⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 140| C| D

10/1

Took well to fences last season, making it 3-4 over the larger obstacles with a ready success at Catterick (19.2f, good to soft) when last seen in January. Up 9 lb but remains open to improvement.

Form: 13/1211-

Shannon Bridge^t²³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 133

8/1

Opened chase account at Uttoxeter (2½m, heavy) on New Year's Eve prior to final-fence fall at Warwick (would've finished second had he stayed up) in February. Not discounted.

Form: 78/3P1F-

Storm Control^p,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Cook| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 133| D

15/2

Successful off 2 lb higher mark at Doncaster last December but has struggled since, running no sort of a race on Warwick reappearance 23 days ago.

Form: 215P3-7

The Dubai Way^p²⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann| OR: 132| CD

25/1

Made a winning reappearance over this C&D last November, proving 3 lengths too strong for Storm Control (4 lb pull). However, below par both starts since and he looks vulnerable.

Form: 271/155-

Sky Pirate^t1³⁰⁵

11/2

Dual hurdles winner who was going well when falling 4 out in this last term. Runner-up next 2 starts, albeit didn't convince with finishing effort. Has undergone wind surgery and tongue strap added.

Form: B47/F22-

Almazhar Garde²¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: D A Jacob| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 131| D

6/1

Won twice as a novice last term and creditable fifth in a competitive big-field handicap chase at Kempton (20.5f, good to soft) in March. This 5-y-o still has potential and is high on the shortlist.

Form: 461F15-

Pougne Bobbi²¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 130

20/1

Dual handicap chase winner for Nicky Henderson and proved that ability remains intact when second on return from a lengthy absence at Kelso (22.3f, heavy) in March. Claims if able to build on that.

Form: 74517/2-

Dimple^t1²²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Quinlan| T: A M Thomson| OR: 127

80/1

Form: 14P/PP5-

Cool Mix^h²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 126

17/2

Generally below par last season but resumed with a solid effort (first run following a wind operation) when second at (17.1f, good) in September. 1 lb lower now and he's not without each-way hope.

Form: 7/6537-2

Cracking Find²⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Ryan Mania| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 125| BF| C| D

33/1

Runner-up in this race in 2018 but well held when fourth in last season's renewal, following which he proved equally disappointing in 3 subsequent starts. Fair bit to prove at present.

Form: 3F/4889-

Tintern Theatre⁶⁹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 122

17/2

Given a chance by the handicapper (now 12 lb lower than for sole chases success at Kempton in 2017) but wellbeing needs taking on trust following a 23-month layoff.

Form: U00784/

Awake At Midnight³¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 121WS

16/1

Impressive start over fences at Chepstow in November 2018 but below par sole start last season. Since undergone a wind operation and needs to bounce back.

Form: 14742/5-

Wishfull Dreaming^p,t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 121| D

18/1

Three-time winner in 2019 and left tame reappearance behind when fourth in a 10-runner Warwick handicap chase last month. Still, others make more appeal from a win point of view.

Form: 9328-P4

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to board prices only - deduction 5p in the pound

Non-Runners

Demi Sang⁵²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: B Haslam J: R P McLernon

Forecasts

Sky Pirate (11/2), Almazhar Garde (6/1), Storm Control (15/2), Shannon Bridge (8/1), Cool Mix (17/2), Ecu De La Noverie (17/2), Tintern Theatre (17/2), Schiehallion Munro (10/1), Demi Sang (12/1), Awake At Midnight (16/1), Wishfull Dreaming (18/1), Pougne Bobbi (20/1), The Dubai Way (25/1), Cracking Find (33/1), Dimple (80/1)

ALMAZHAR GARDE and Schiehallion Munro both remain open to improvement and are expected to come to the fore in this competitive handicap. The latter is 3-4 over fences and is seriously considered but Almazhar Garde, who performed with credit in a strong race at Kempton in March, may have more in hand off his current mark than that rival. Ecu De La Noverie and Sky Pirate are others to consider.