15:55 Wexford

Sunday 25 October 2020

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:30

Slade Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:56 | Winning time: 5m 21.7s

Burning Ambition²²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Donagh Meyler| T: Pierce Power| OR: 133| D

33/1

Unseated rider in hunter chase at Down Royal (22f, heavy, 3/1). Off 10 months. Something to prove on reappearance.

Form: 12/26U3-

Ask Nile^b,t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Ricky Doyle| T: S Neville| OR: 132

4/1

Twenty four runs since last win in 2017. Respectable fifth of 17 in handicap chase (16/1) at Listowel (24f, soft) 32 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Very much one to consider.

Form: 637-235

An Fraoch Mor²⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: L P Dempsey| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 130| BF| C| D

4/1

Latest win in chase at Navan in December. 11/2, eleventh of 16 in handicap chase at Naas (20f, soft). Off 8 months. Not easy to make a case for.

Form: 413/210-

Valdieu^p²⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: D F O'Regan| T: N Meade| OR: 130| D

9/2

Latest win in chase at Naas in February. 8/1, creditable third of 16 in handicap chase at Naas (20f, soft), faltering. Off 8 months. Likely to go well.

Form: 52F313-

Fine Theatre^b²²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽³⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 128| CD

14/1

9/2, won 7-runner handicap chase at this C&D (heavy) by 3¼ lengths from Scoir Mear, keeping on well. Off 7 months. Not certain to be in the same form on return.

Form: P1/08P1-

Scoir Mear^p1¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁵⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 128| D

9/2

Thirteen runs since last win in 2019. 25/1, creditable fifth of 16 in handicap chase at Limerick (24f, heavy) 14 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Shortlist material.

Form: 722-355

Cusp Of Carabelli²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Slevin| T: D M O'Brien| OR: 123| D

11/1

17/2, pulled up in handicap chase at Gowran (25f, good) 22 days ago. Likely to bounce back quickly.

Form: 72355P

Spades Are Trumps^t²⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: N P Madden| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 122

11/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2017. Useful winner at 16f over hurdles. 8/1, eighth of 10 in handicap chase at Thurles (16.7f, soft), inadequate test. Off 8 months. Worth a market check.

Form: 920078-

Fairly Legal³¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner| OR: 121| D

14/1

Career best when winning 7-runner handicap chase at Navan (20f, heavy, 5/2), plenty in hand. Off 10 months. Might need this.

Form: 6P82/41-

Allardyce^p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: K C Sexton| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 121

12/1

6/1, bit below form fourth of 8 in handicap chase at Listowel (17f, soft) 29 days ago. Likely to strip fitter for that reappearance. RESERVE.

Form: 131P4-4

Non-Runners

Smithscorner⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 9

T: M Kennedy J: C P McNamara

Peaches And Cream⁴⁹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: G P Cromwell J: J M Moore

Call A Cab³⁹¹

Weight: 10-9| Age: 7

T: P A Fahy J: Reserve 2

Crossed My Mind²²²

Weight: 10-7| Age: 8

T: A L T Moore J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Ask Nile (4/1), An Fraoch Mor (4/1), Scoir Mear (9/2), Valdieu (9/2), Smithscorner (11/2), Spades Are Trumps (11/1), Cusp Of Carabelli (11/1), Allardyce (12/1), Fairly Legal (14/1), Fine Theatre (14/1), Crossed My Mind (14/1), Call A Cab (14/1), Peaches And Cream (14/1), Burning Ambition (33/1)

ASK NILE shaped as if still in form over a trip that stretched him when fifth in a better race at Listowel in September and, in a race where the bulk of his rivals have something to prove, this consistent 8yo makes plenty of appeal. Valdieu could lay down a challenge if fit for his reappearance and Scoir Mear remains on a handy mark for when things drop right.