15:25 Exeter

Tuesday 3 November 2020

All12:5513:2513:5514:2514:5515:2515:5516:25

Harcombe Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 6m 18.5s

Larkbarrow Lad^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 130

15/2

Temperament isn't all it could be, but won twice over hurdles and there were positives to glean from C&D chase debut last month. Should be sharper now and he's open to improvement in this sphere.

Form: 1/2157-4

Classic Ben^p²⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 130| BF| D

12/1

Winner of 3m Sandown handicap off this mark in February 2019. However, below par in handful of runs last season and he's entitled to need this following a 9-month absence.

Form: 14/4V35-

Orchardstown Cross³¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 130| CD

11/1

Followed winning reappearance in this race last year with a couple of lacklustre performances, plus he's 7 lb higher this time round. Still, he'll be a danger to all if resuming in good order.

Form: 211/10P-

Fortescue²⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁵⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 129| CD

10/1

Improved performer sent chasing last season, making it 3 wins from 4 starts over fences with a C&D (heavy) success when last seen in March. 8 lb higher now, but he remains unexposed in this sphere.

Form: 34/1211-

Le Boizelo²⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: H Cobden| T: R Walford| OR: 129| D

20/1

Third in this race last term and subsequently scored at Sandown in December and Wincanton when last seen in March (left clear 2 out). His record when fresh tempers enthusiasm somewhat.

Form: 631431-

Polydora^t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 128| C

40/1

Made it to the track just twice last season (below par on each occasion) and again misfired on recent reappearance at Carlisle.

Form: 349/2P-P

Truckin Away^t²⁵⁰

15/2

Fairly useful winning hurdler who showed ability in 4 starts over fences last season. Has undergone a second wind op and open to improvement in this sphere, but Richard Johnson prefers Larkbarrow Lad.

Form: 92/P533-

Rathlin Rose^b²⁵⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-9| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 127| D

66/1

Grand servant for connections who has done most of his winning at Sandown and Ascot. Largely below par last season and entitled to come on for this reappearance run.

Form: 79V037-

Dawson City²³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Unknown| T: P Gundry| OR: 127| C| D

100/1

Now 4 lb lower than for his success in the 2019 Devon National here, but last season was a struggle and he's another who doesn't boast a particularly good record when fresh.

Form: 4/754P4-

St Erney²⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: David Noonan| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 126| CD

66/1

Made it third time lucky under Rules when narrowly landing a C&D handicap chase in March 2019. Well beaten in the Devon National back here on his sole subsequent start in February, though.

Form: 2331/P-

Jersey Bean^b²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 125| D

11/2

Useful hurdler at best and opened chase account with a good front-running display at Newton Abbot (25.8f) last month. However, more needed up 5 lb in this stronger race.

Form: 2278-31

Killer Clown¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 124| D

11/2

Point winner who improved with each of his 3 starts over hurdles last term and unseated through no fault of his own in a handicap at Uttoxeter on chasing debut. Remains of interest.

Form: 1/2553-U

Rebel Royal¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 122

25/1

Made a winning reappearance/chase debut at Huntingdon (19.8f) last October. However, failed to build on that in 3 subsequent starts and stamina doubts remain.

Form: 7/61P-P4

Plantagenet^p¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Daniel Sansom⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 121

28/1

Dual chase winner who stepped up plenty on return effort when second at Kelso (26f) last month. Pulled up at Cheltenham since, but he's likely to bounce back quickly and is certainly not without hope.

Form: 278-32P

Broadclyst^p²⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 120| BF| D

16/1

Close second in competitive Wincanton handicap (25.1f) on return last season, and was still in the lead when departing 2 out over the same C&D on final start of that campaign. One to consider.

Form: 72/285F-

Mahlermade^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: A King| OR: 119

28/1

Ended novice campaign over fences with a win (off this mark), but failed to kick on last season and reappearance effort at Bangor in September was poor.

Form: 07634-0

That's A Given^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: P J Brennan| T: Noel Williams| OR: 119

11/1

Signed off 2019 with a victory at Hereford. Well held first 2 starts this year, but back on track for new yard following a wind op when 2 lengths second to Jersey Bean at Newton Abbot. Place claims.

Form: 21-9602

Everlanes^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 116| D

7/1

Positive start to chasing last season, doubling her tally over fences at Kempton in March. Possibly in need of the run on recent reappearance at Stratford, but more needed here all the same.

Form: 63121-7

Forecasts

Jersey Bean (11/2), Killer Clown (11/2), Everlanes (7/1), Truckin Away (15/2), Larkbarrow Lad (15/2), Fortescue (10/1), Orchardstown Cross (11/1), That's A Given (11/1), Classic Ben (12/1), Broadclyst (16/1), Le Boizelo (20/1), Rebel Royal (25/1), Plantagenet (28/1), Mahlermade (28/1), Polydora (40/1), St Erney (66/1), Rathlin Rose (66/1), Dawson City (100/1)

KILLER CLOWN didn't get very far on chase debut at Uttoxeter, but that was through no fault of his own (hampered and unseated rider at the second fence) and this point winner appeals as the type to excel in this sphere. He gets the nod ahead of Fortescue, who is 3-4 over fences and may have more to offer, and last year's winner Orchardstown Cross. Another for the shortlist is Broadclyst.