13:10 Leicester

Wednesday 13 January 2021

All13:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:40

Pertemps Network Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 4m 19.36s

Twenty Twenty¹⁰^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 115

11/1

Fairly useful 19f winning hurdler who excelled himself when making a winning chasing debut in handicap at Plumpton 10 days ago. Obvious claims if he can back that up under a penalty.

Form: 281-741

Ballyneety³⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 120| D

25/1

Fairly useful hurdler in Ireland but well held all starts over fences. Might do better at some point, so worth a market check on first outing since leaving Joseph O'Brien (off 11 months).

Form: 8/08F79-

Cilaos Glace⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Sherwood| OR: 120| D

11/2

Won twice over hurdles in spring 2019 and while last season was a write-off, he returned with his best effort over fences when second at Wetherby 75 days ago. Claims if he can build on that.

Form: 11/8UP-2

Little Rory Mac^h²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 120| D

7/1

Fairly useful 17f winner over hurdles. 16/5, unseated rider third in 2m handicap chase at Newcastle on debut over fences 25 days ago. Needs to brush up his jumping.

Form: 151-42F

Sheshoon Sonny⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 116| BF| D

10/3

Fairly useful maiden hurdler who wasn't at his best at Taunton last time but does have the scope to make a better chaser, so shouldn't be ruled out back from a short break.

Form: 5723-30

Tip Top Cat³²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 115

11/1

Well beaten on hurdles debut last February, but much better effort when third in 19f Warwick novice later that month. Still, sizeable step forward needed if he's to make a winning start over fences.

Form: 743-

Jack Valentine⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 112| D

5/2

Bumper winner/hurdles winner who seems to have returned in form and should take to the larger obstacles at the first attempt, so can't be ruled out.

Form: 3221-25

Coby Nine⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 107

9/1

Fair hurdler who left chase debut behind when winning handicap at Stratford in November. Not in anything like the same form next time but a break may have done him good.

Form: 22-2517

Postman⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 107

33/1

Fair 10f Flat winner who readily opened his account over hurdles in novice at Newton Abbot in 2019. Disappointing back from a long absence this term, including on chasing debut at Lingfield last time.

Form: 6/F1-77

Zorlu^p1³¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: David Noonan| T: T R Gretton| OR: 67

300/1

Showed no ability for previous stables and is impossible to fancy from a long way out of the weights.

Form: 57580/8-

Non-Runners

Pure Country³⁴⁰

Weight: 10-10| Age: 6

T: Noel Williams J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Jack Valentine (5/2), Sheshoon Sonny (10/3), Cilaos Glace (11/2), Little Rory Mac (7/1), Coby Nine (9/1), Twenty Twenty (11/1), Tip Top Cat (11/1), Pure Country (14/1), Ballyneety (25/1), Postman (33/1), Zorlu (300/1)

An open-looking novices' handicap chase in which it could be worth taking a chance on JACK VALENTINE who has been generally consistent over hurdles and has the scope to do better now trying the larger obstacles. Recent Plumpton winner Twenty Twenty is an obvious alternative, while Coby Nine could get back on the up after a break.