13:00 Leicester

Thursday 18 February 2021

All12:3013:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:47

Racecourse Live Streams On RacingTV Extra Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:01 | Winning time: 5m 50.8s

Ardbruce⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 90

16/1

Well held over hurdles and (66/1) pulled up switched to chasing in 22f handicap here in December. Hard to warm to.

Form: P54-00P

Friary Land^p³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 88

9/4

Ex-Irish gelding has shown steadily progressive form over hurdles for Olly Murphy, fourth of 18 in 3m Doncaster handicap last time. Not without interest sent chasing and well worth a market check.

Form: 68-6444

Ring The Moon^p1,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 87

10/3

Hasn't taken to fences this term but back on track returned to timber when second of 18 in handicap at Chepstow (19.4f) 29 days ago. Back over fences with something to prove though.

Form: 5-08PF2

Gallic Geordie^h,t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 85| BF

7/1

33/1 and first form when making a winning chase debut at Lingfield (2m) in December. Pulled up at Ffos Las only run since so he needs to bounce back.

Form: 6/69P-1P

Watar Allstar^p¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: A Irvine| OR: 83

11/1

Modest maiden hurdler/chaser but not easiest to catch right and only twelfth at Warwick last time. On good mark if back on song.

Form: 75-3P30

Treacys Jim²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: J D Frost| OR: 81

50/1

Yet to show any form in three 2m runs over hurdles. Tries chasing now with lots to prove.

Form: 7/P09-U0

Just In A Muddle²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: W T Kennedy| T: Christian Williams| OR: 79

50/1

Modest maiden hurdler for Gary Moore. Offered little after 11 months off on yard debut but switch to chasing could see him step forward.

Form: 6803-0

Bignorm⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 79

6/1

Maiden hurdler/chaser who posted best effort over fences when third of 10 in heavy-ground Southwell handicap 67 days ago. Needs considering off unchanged mark.

Form: 45/7F-93

Joey Steel^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 79

6/1

Poor and temperamental maiden. Not disgraced when second in 2m5f Fakenham handicap last time. Cheekpieces back on but others still appeal more.

Form: 369-452

Forecasts

Friary Land (9/4), Ring The Moon (10/3), Bignorm (6/1), Joey Steel (6/1), Gallic Geordie (7/1), Watar Allstar (11/1), Ardbruce (16/1), Just In A Muddle (50/1), Treacys Jim (50/1)

Lots of these with chasing experience have questions to answer so FRIARY LAND, who has shown progressive hurdling form since joining Olly Murphy, is fancied to make a winning start over fences. Bignorm arrives on the back of a fine third at Southwell so is rated next best, although Watar Allstar is weighted to have a say too if on song.