12:58 Wincanton

Saturday 9 January 2021

All11:5212:2512:5813:3014:0514:3515:0515:45

MansionBet Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:59 | Winning time: 6m 45.7s

Ede'iffs Elton^p³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: R Walford| OR: 105| C

7/2

Modest over hurdles but confirmed promise of second chase start when running out a comfortable winner over extended 26f here last month. Handicapper has reacted but he's of interest nevertheless.

Form: 279-6U1

Faint Hope^t⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁵⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 105

14/1

Won 21f Kempton handicap hurdle in May 2018. Lightly raced since, well beaten on second run over fences at Taunton in November but his mark has dropped further at least.

Form: 531P/59

Mr Palmtree^b,t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: R Dickin| OR: 103| D

12/1

Improved model over fences this season, landing handicaps at Huntingdon/Hereford in November. Undone by chance-ending mistake 3 out at latter venue latest and best treated as still in form.

Form: 3-71144

Lex Talionis^t,v²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: R T Dunne| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 102| BF| C

14/1

Has proved unreliable but more encouraging signs for new yard this winter, runner-up at Ffos Las (23.8f) prior to shaping better than being pulled up suggests at Bangor last time.

Form: D0-442P

Merry Milan^p,t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 102

20/1

On a losing run and failed to build on comeback second at Warwick in 3 runs since, including back chasing at Uttoxeter latest. Has cheekpieces and a tongue tie combined for the first time.

Form: 75-2776

According To Alex³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 101

16/1

Lightly-raced hurdler who showed some ability last season but he's not kicked on in 2 starts so far this term and the switch to chasing needs to bring about some improvement.

Form: 7/239-49

Jurys Out⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 100| BF

5/1

Hurdles winner at Carlisle in 2019 and positive start to this season when second in 25.8f Newton Abbot handicap chase. Best excused subsequent Ffos Las effort (bad mistake 3 out) and not ruled out.

Form: 12/U3-26

Troed Y Melin⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: C Gethings| T: C Honour| OR: 98

12/1

Shed maiden tag re-united with this yard at Exeter (19.2f) in October but not scaled same heights either start back up in trip subsequently, fading from 3 out when fifth at Taunton (23f) last time.

Form: 2U2-185

Invincible Cave^p⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 97| BF| D

13/2

Tricky customer who was clearly rejuvenated when landing back-to-back handicap hurdles at up to 25f in November. Not disgraced in third when last seen but he's back up in the weights.

Form: 8P5113

Apple Mack^p1⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: M G Nolan| T: R Mitford-Slade| OR: 96

8/1

Fair maiden hurdler who ran to a similar level in a couple of novice handicap chase last November. Hasn't returned in same form this winter and he needs to jump better than he did last time.

Form: 77/27-54

Catlow^h1⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Miss J S Davis| OR: 83

18/1

Encouragement to glean from trio of starts in novice/maiden hurdles but hasn't made any impact in 3 handicaps this term, including on chase debut. Has left Henry Oliver.

Form: 765-P95

Kalabee⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Archie Bellamy⁽⁷⁾| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 81

16/1

Showed his first real form, though also some temperament when third over hurdles at Fontwell (25.7f) on penultimate start and not seen to best effect at Exeter since. Chase debut.

Form: 90-6P36

Mr Magill^h,t¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁷⁾| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 79| C

12/1

Winning hurdler who got no further than the first on latest start over fences at Taunton (26.2f) in December. However, not looked a winner in waiting previously in this sphere and others preferred.

Form: 373-04F

Non-Runners

Easy Bucks⁶²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: P & M Bowen J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Forecasts

Ede'iffs Elton (7/2), Easy Bucks (9/2), Jurys Out (5/1), Invincible Cave (13/2), Apple Mack (8/1), Mr Palmtree (12/1), Mr Magill (12/1), Troed Y Melin (12/1), Lex Talionis (14/1), Faint Hope (14/1), Kalabee (16/1), According To Alex (16/1), Catlow (18/1), Merry Milan (20/1)

A dual winner over fences at Uttoxeter in October, EASY BUCKS again impressed with a solid display when runner-up at Ffos Las the following month, jumping well/travelling smoothly before the testing conditions possibly took their toll. The type to do better again, he earns the vote to come out on top, ahead of fellow low-mileage course winner Ede'iffs Elton and Jurys Out.