14:55 Warwick

Thursday 31 December 2020

All12:1612:5013:2013:5014:2514:5515:25

Jonjo O'Neill Racing Club Amazing Benefits 99 Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 5m 41.9s

Skipping On^p²²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Morgan| OR: 107| D

15/2

Not the force of old but his mark is starting to reflect that and he arrives having posted solid placed efforts both starts this term, latterly when second at Hexham (15.6f). Likely to go well again.

Form: 4232-32

Ellens Way^p,t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁷⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 107| C

5/1

Three-time hurdle winner who hasn't looked the force of old since returning from over 2 years off this term, her finishing effort disconcerting when runner-up over fences at Fontwell latest.

Form: PP3-P52

Kap Auteuil⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: T Lawes| OR: 105

8/1

Brother to high-class chaser A Plus Tard. Minor promise over hurdles and he gave himself little chance of getting home on chase debut at Fontwell recently, taking a strong hold. Still, it's early days

Form: 2/65-974

Away For Slates³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 104

12/1

Multiple chase winner who has returned to form in recent weeks, keeping on for third at Lingfield (2m) latest. Eased another 1 lb in weights and not discounted.

Form: 33-5323

Rintulla^b1³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling| OR: 102

8/1

Bumper winner who went winless over hurdles but not without promise when fourth on chase debut at Bangor (20.3f) in October. Fell next time but no surprise to see him do better equipped with blinkers.

Form: 1/P54-4F

Gars Bar Dine^p²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 101| BF

15/2

Benefited from being ridden more patiently than the other principals when belatedly off the mark at Fontwell (21.6f) in November. Not in same form back there since but not one to write off.

Form: 45/6-715

Larcadio⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 99

4/1

Winning Irish pointer who achieved a fair level of form over hurdles last term. Likely he'll strip fitter for last month's Stratford chase debut effort and not ruled out in this line up.

Form: 50958-5

Lickpenny Larry^t³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: R T Dunne| T: T R Gretton| OR: 97| D

16/1

Held his form well last season but below par both starts this time around. Handicap mark is at least on the way back down and a better showing certainly not ruled out.

Form: 1422-99

The Brothers^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: H Cobden| T: R Walford| OR: 96

9/1

Stayed on to lead close home when shedding maiden tag on return at Fontwell (19.5f) and dispelled a lesser effort when third back at aforementioned venue since. Not discounted with Cobden booked again

Form: 244-1P3

Glorious Boru²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: W Featherstone| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 86

10/1

Modest chaser who returned to form when third at Uttoxeter (20f) in October. Still in mix when unseating at Leicester (22.7f) subsequently but fact he remains a maiden is off-putting.

Form: 62P-73U

Dun Bay Creek^p⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: David Noonan| T: R Brotherton| OR: 69

100/1

Little to shout about since scoring over hurdles for Alan King in 2016 and easy enough to look elsewhere operating from 10 lb out of the weights.

Form: 266-886

Non-Runners

Haldon Hill⁵⁵

Weight: 11-9| Age: 7

T: V R A Dartnall J: R P McLernon

Joly Maker¹⁸

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: J & A O'Neill J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Forecasts

Larcadio (4/1), Ellens Way (5/1), Joly Maker (6/1), Skipping On (15/2), Gars Bar Dine (15/2), Rintulla (8/1), Kap Auteuil (8/1), The Brothers (9/1), Glorious Boru (10/1), Haldon Hill (10/1), Away For Slates (12/1), Lickpenny Larry (16/1), Dun Bay Creek (100/1)

This looks wide open and it may pay to take a chance on LICKPENNY LARRY. He stepped up on his return effort, whilst possibly still needing the run, at Uttoxeter in November and he ran well off higher marks last term. Skipping On, Joly Maker and Rintulla, in first-time blinkers, head up the dangers.