13:10 Kempton

Saturday 9 January 2021

All12:0512:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:3015:57

Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:11 | Winning time: 5m 8.5s

A Toi Phil³³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: N F Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 140| D

14/1

Ended time with Gordon Elliott with victory in 20f Listowel chase early last season. £70,000 purchase and shaped encouragingly on debut for this yard at Newbury in February. Likely to need this.

Form: 004014-

Theinval^p⁴¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 138| CD

14/1

Lightly raced in last couple of seasons but signed off last season with good fifth of 18 in Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival and not disgraced at Leicester on return. Respected.

Form: 36/FP5-5

Erick Le Rouge⁶³

10/3

Successful twice over fences last term, including this race off 3 lb lower. Fair bit to prove following 2 disappointing efforts this season but no surprise if he bounced back to form after wind op.

Form: 5714-9F

Princeton Royale^v⁴¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: N B King| OR: 137| D

33/1

Has quickly gone the wrong way since his surprise reapperance victory at Stratford and others preferred.

Form: P8-153P

Ibis Du Rheu^h,t⁶³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: W T Kennedy| T: R Hobson| OR: 135| DWS

18/1

Useful at best but out of sorts when last seen out 21 months ago for Paul Nicholls. Returns now after wind op for new yard and the betting may unearth some clues.

Form: 55127P/

Pistol Whipped³⁰¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 134| D

7/2

Winning hurdler who failed to build on winning chase debut at Leicester last season, running poorly when last seen here in February.

Form: 1P/1F50-

Smarty Wild²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 130

5/2

Good hurdles strike rate and best effort over fences this season when third at Ascot 3 weeks ago, faring best of those held up. Remains well treated if brushing up his jumping.

Form: 446-343

The Bay Birch^t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 128| D

11/2

Struggling for form over fences of late and not much better off lower hurdles mark at Cheltenham. Becoming well handicapped at least.

Form: 8-33506

Non-Runners

Mind's Eye¹²⁵

Weight: 11-13| Age: 9

T: Miss C Dyson J: 2nd Preference

Espoir De Romay³⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: K Bailey & M Nicholls J: Non Runner

Espoir De Teillee⁶³

Weight: 11-10| Age: 9

T: T R George J: Non Runner

Not Another Muddle²¹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 10

T: G & J Moore J: 2nd Preference

Evander²⁹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: 2nd Preference

Mahlervous³⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 8

T: W Greatrex J: Harry Bannister

Forecasts

Smarty Wild (5/2), Erick Le Rouge (10/3), Pistol Whipped (7/2), Espoir De Romay (4/1), Evander (4/1), The Bay Birch (11/2), Mahlervous (6/1), A Toi Phil (14/1), Theinval (14/1), Not Another Muddle (16/1), Espoir De Teillee (16/1), Ibis Du Rheu (18/1), Mind's Eye (25/1), Princeton Royale (33/1)

SMARTY WILD was the only one to get involved from off the pace at Ascot 3 weeks ago and probably has more to offer in this sphere after only 3 outings. Evander would also be high on the shortlist if running here rather than at Wincanton. Last year's winner Erick Le Rouge could bounce back to form with a big run after a wind op.