14:53 Stratford

Saturday 17 October 2020

All12:4313:1313:4314:1814:5315:2816:0316:40

Pragnell Gold Cup Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:53 | Winning time: 5m 2.90s

Denmead^t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 122

9/1

Fairly useful dual hurdles winner who matched that form at the second attempt over fences when third of 7 in handicap at Warwick 16 days ago. Should have more to offer.

Form: 310/0-53

Mon Palois^p³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 120| BF| C

17/2

Has taken well to fences and (cheekpieces on) landed 5-runner handicap chase here in August. Flopped at Newton Abbot subsequently but regular jockey back on board now.

Form: 029-319

Templehills^h²⁹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Savage⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 120| D

6/1

Useful chaser at best and, while he struggled to find any form for Jonjo O'Neill last season, he's back with his old yard and well treated ahead of this return.

Form: 05/60P6-

Fort Gabriel³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Callum McKinnes⁽⁷⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 119

25/1

Arrives out of sorts, only sixth of 7 in handicap chase (14/1) at Uttoxeter (20f) 26 days ago when going in snatches. Hard to warm to at present.

Form: 8/13P-P6

Hey Bud²³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 118

17/2

Only twice raced over fences, and hinted at promise when fading fifth of 7 in handicap chase at Newbury (22.4f) on soft ground 7 months ago. Likely to improve.

Form: 331/9U5-

Francky Du Berlais^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 117

7/4

Looked as good as ever when scoring over hurdles at Newton Abbot on reappearance and he's ever bit as effective over fences, so looks a leading player off a 1 lb higher mark.

Form: 35327-1

Everlanes^t²¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: W T Kennedy| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 117

15/2

Made a positive start to chasing last season, doubling his tally over fences when scoring cosily at Kempton 7 months ago. May do better still if she's fully tuned up for this return.

Form: 4/63121-

Smuggler's Blues²⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 115WS

18/1

20f winner at Bangor last season and not disgraced when fourth in handicap chase at Market Rasen (23.9f) final run when failing to get home. Off 8 months but not taken lightly.

Form: 4571/54-

Dream Bolt^t¹⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: D A Rees| OR: 110| C| D

6/1

Holding form well this season, not discredited when third at Bangor 18 days ago. He's vulnerable to better-handicapped sorts, however.

Form: 85/2423

Lickpenny Larry^t²⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: David Noonan| T: T R Gretton| OR: 102

50/1

Scored at Uttoxeter last November and ended the season in good order but this is a tough starting point for the new campaign after 8 months off.

Form: 5/21422-

Non-Runners

Cherokee Bill²⁶³

Weight: 11-8| Age: 9

T: Henry Oliver J: James Davies

Forecasts

Francky Du Berlais (7/4), Templehills (6/1), Dream Bolt (6/1), Everlanes (15/2), Hey Bud (17/2), Mon Palois (17/2), Denmead (9/1), Cherokee Bill (14/1), Smuggler's Blues (18/1), Fort Gabriel (25/1), Lickpenny Larry (50/1)

FRANCKY DU BERLAIS should be able to defy this mark if he can replicate the sort of form he showed when making a winning return over hurdles, so he gets the nod ahead of Denmead, who has the potential to do better as a chaser. Templehills is another one to consider having re-joined Nigel Twiston-Davies.