15:10 Exeter

Friday 26 February 2021

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:16

Thank You NHS Devon National Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 8m 27.0s

Christmas In April^p⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 135| CD

14/1

Decisive winner of this race off 6 lb lower mark last year. Decent start to the season when second at Fontwell, but ran poorly in the Welsh National since and the handicapper may hold the aces now.

Form: 131P-2P

Dawson City³⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-6| J: Millie Wonnacott⁽⁷⁾| T: P Gundry| OR: 129| CD

5/1

Pulled up when bidding to win this race for the third year running in 2020, but arrives here in far better form this time round, successful under this rider at Wincanton last time. Merits respect.

Form: 4-03271

Boyhood²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 128

22/1

Has failed to add to chase debut success back in May 2019, and makes limited appeal back in this sphere following a series of low-key efforts over hurdles.

Form: 3P-4966

Special Acceptance^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: T Scudamore| T: P R Webber| OR: 124

10/1

Responded well to this headgear when scoring for the first time at Plumpton (25.7f) in December. Solid efforts in defeat there and at Doncaster since, and another bold show is on the cards.

Form: 4-53122

Samuel Jackson^p⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: M G Nolan| T: R Mitford-Slade| OR: 123| C

4/1

Missed whole of last season and well held in a couple of spins over hurdles in November/December. However, back on track when runner-up in 24.2f handicap chase here last time and he needs considering.

Form: 414/032

Talktomenow^b⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 122

12/1

Stepped up on hurdles form when making a winning chase debut at Fontwell (3¼m) in December. Nothing wrong with his 2 subsequent efforts and he's certainly not without each-way hope.

Form: 142132

Petite Power⁴¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-13| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 122

28/1

Veteran who wasn't disgraced when fourth in a competitive Cheltenham handicap chase in November. Not in the same form since, though, and it's best to look elsewhere.

Form: 3P-047P

Regal Flow²²

Age: 14| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R H Buckler| OR: 120

50/1

Midlands National winner in 2018 who certainly didn't disgrace himself at Sandown on first 3 starts of the season. Ran no sort of a race at Wincanton last time, though, and he's basically opposable.

Form: P6-636P

Amateur^p,t⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Jamie Bargary| T: J L Flint| OR: 117

11/2

Taken well to fences, chasing home Sojourn at Carlisle in November and, having undergone a wind op, he went one beter at Newbury (3¼m) the following month. 8 lb rise tolerable and he's a big player.

Form: 2U-2P21

Financial Outcome^t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 116

25/1

Returned to form following wind surgery when third at Bangor last month, but followed that with a lacklustre display at Doncaster. Others look more solid.

Form: P-28R3P

Tea Time On Mars⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 114| C

6/1

Opened chase account here last January and added to his tally over 3m at Bangor in November. Matched that form when fourth of 12 here subsequently, but this is a tougher assignment.

Form: 314-614

Bermeo^t,v1⁵⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁷⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 114

12/1

Gained second win of season at Cheltenham (25f) in October. Not far behind Special Acceptance when fourth in the Sussex National at Plumpton last time and each-way chance in a first-time visor.

Form: P512P4

Ballybough Nora^t³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁵⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 109

14/1

Went close here on final start of last term and majority of her efforts this time round have been creditable. However, good run of form came to a halt at Chepstow last time and stamina to prove.

Form: 2-63223

Findusatgorcombe^t³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: J D Frost| OR: 106| CD

12/1

Dual winner last season and made it 2-3 over fences here when narrowly seeing off Dawson City in a C&D handicap in December. Good second at Wincanton since, but this new mark asks a serious question.

Form: 493-412

Non-Runners

Head To The Stars²²

Weight: 11-2| Age: 10

T: H D Daly J: R Johnson

Forecasts

Samuel Jackson (4/1), Dawson City (5/1), Amateur (11/2), Tea Time On Mars (6/1), Special Acceptance (10/1), Findusatgorcombe (12/1), Bermeo (12/1), Talktomenow (12/1), Ballybough Nora (14/1), Christmas In April (14/1), Head To The Stars (20/1), Boyhood (22/1), Financial Outcome (25/1), Petite Power (28/1), Regal Flow (50/1)

With just 5 runs apiece over fences, AMATEUR and Special Acceptance may both have more to offer in this sphere. The latter is not passed over lightly following fine efforts in defeat the last twice, but Amateur is likely to relish this stamina test and he is preferred on the back of his Newbury success, for which an 8 lb rise looks manageable. Bermeo and Samuel Jackson both make each-way appeal.