14:30 Plumpton

Monday 18 October 2021

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:22

Nick Embiricos Memorial 2021 Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 5m 1.6s

Raven's Tower^b⁵⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 100| C

13/2

Unreliable sort who is now 25 runs since last win in 2017. 16/1, only ninth of 14 in handicap chase at Worcester (23f, good) 57 days ago, so others are preferred.

Form: 556-249

Chapati³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: J Coulson| OR: 100| BF

4/1

Very modest strike rate over hurdles (1-19) but has made a decent start to his chasing career, runner-up either side of an all-the-way Stratford success in August. Another prominent showing likely.

Form: 430212

Salamanca School¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 95

16/5

Fairly useful at best on Flat. Has only achieved modest form over hurdles but latest third in 2m Uttoxeter handicap does show he can be competitive off this mark now making an early switch to fences.

Form: 633-893

Gaia Vallis¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 83

9/2

Fontwell chase winner in the spring who was also runner-up in a novice hurdle there last month. Below that level when only fourth in a Uttoxeter handicap since. Now back chasing.

Form: 4F0424

Auld Sod^p⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Cynthia Woods| OR: 83

22/1

Successful over 3m at Ffos Las for Philip Hobbs in June but disappointing on his 3 subsequent starts. Sets out for a new yard after a 2-month break with refitted cheekpieces replacing usual blinkers.

Form: 43-1677

Mawlood¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 78| C

16/5

Dual 17f hurdle winner who has shaped better than the result on both attempts over fences, a mistake 4 out halting his momentum at Stratford 14 days ago. Contender.

Form: 217445

Dr Jane^p³¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 67

11/1

No impact over hurdles at the end of 2020, including in a handicap. Too soon to write off now chasing back from a break but would need to see market support to consider.

Form: 9P07-

Non-Runners

Alburn¹³

Weight: 10-0| Age: 11

T: R J Armson J: Philip Armson

Forecasts

Salamanca School (16/5), Mawlood (16/5), Chapati (4/1), Gaia Vallis (9/2), Raven's Tower (13/2), Dr Jane (11/1), Auld Sod (22/1), Alburn (33/1)

The solid option here is CHAPATI who has taken well to fences in recent months and can resume winning ways. Mawlood is better than he's shown on both chase starts and has won off a higher mark than this over hurdles so he's feared most ahead of Warren Greatrex chase newcomer Salamanca School.