15:15 Exeter

Friday 4 December 2020

All12:2512:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Close Brothers Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 8m 11.48s

Petite Power^p²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 125

11/2

Veteran who landed back-to-back handicaps upon returning to action last term. Hasn't figured either start this autumn but handicapper has relinquished his grip. Finished second in this race last year.

Form: 123P-04

Lithic^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 123| BF

8/1

Long-standing maiden over fences who highlighted why when runner-up at Wetherby (3m) last month, looming up 3 out but outbattled late on. Can get involved but opposable for win purposes.

Form: 3PB6-32

Dawson City¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: P Gundry| OR: 122| BF| CD

6/1

Fairly useful winning chaser who won over this C&D in February 2019. Stepped up on return when staying on for third at Uttoxeter (3m) recently and this is a more suitable assignment.

Form: 54P4-03

Dancing Shadow^b⁵⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: James Best| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 122| C

14/1

Now 15 runs since his last win in 2017 but he arrives here having gone agonisingly close to bucking that trend when close-up third at Chepstow (23.6f) in October. Needs to back that up.

Form: 4/25P3-3

Some Detail^p⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 120

5/1

Bumper winner who was placed on 4 of his 5 starts over hurdles last term (looking a thorough stayer). Likely return/chase debut was needed and he's interesting up in trip/in refitted cheekpieces.

Form: 42322-0

Ballymalin^v²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 120

22/1

Ended short 2019/20 campaign in good form but failed to complete both starts this winter, running out when yet to be asked for effort at Uttoxeter (26f) last month.

Form: 2/612-PR

Holdbacktheriver¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 119| C

25/1

Shaped well to a point in this 12 months ago and back to winning ways at Chepstow (26f) in January. Another entitled to be sharper for last month's Ffos Las return over an inadequate trip.

Form: 8/05P1-2

Sizing Cusimano^p¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 117

9/2

Dual hurdles winner who has showed plenty without getting his head infront over fences. Encouraging return second at Huntingdon (19.8f) last month and he appeals as being on a workable mark on balance

Form: P/3632-2

Bermeo^p,t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 115

8/1

Enjoying a good season and gained second win when scoring at Cheltenham (25f) on penultimate start. Sound second back there since and no reason why he won't give another good account.

Form: 12P512

Buster Edwards^b,t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 114

16/1

Back-to-back handicap hurdle winner last winter and creditable placed efforts on first 2 starts over fences at Fontwell. However, not so good at Cheltenham/Chepstow more recently.

Form: 34-3265

Findusatgorcombe^t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: J D Frost| OR: 96| C

16/1

Dual winner at upto 3m last season who produced an encouraging return when fourth at Lingfield (20f) recently, weakening only late on. Entitled to be sharper but this tougher from out the weights.

Form: 11493-4

Non-Runners

Big Difference¹⁸

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: B Pauling J: Luca Morgan

Forecasts

Sizing Cusimano (9/2), Some Detail (5/1), Petite Power (11/2), Big Difference (11/2), Dawson City (6/1), Lithic (8/1), Bermeo (8/1), Dancing Shadow (14/1), Findusatgorcombe (16/1), Buster Edwards (16/1), Ballymalin (22/1), Holdbacktheriver (25/1)

A wide-open staying handicap chase with the vote in favour of BIG DIFFERENCE. A low-mileage 6-y-o, he has twice shaped well in hitting the frame this season and the return to this marathon trip may well unlock further progress from Ben Pauling's charge. Sizing Cusimano and Lithic can also get involved, whilst Some Detail is also worth a look now faced with a thorough test of stamina.