13:45 Newcastle

Thursday 9 December 2021

All11:4012:1012:4013:1013:4514:2014:5015:20

MansionBet Faller Insurance Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 6m 3.98s

Mr Scrumpy³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 122| C

9/2

Ended last season out of sorts over hurdles but there was some encouragement over an inadequate trip on chasing bow at Carlisle, so could make a bigger impression back at more suitable distance.

Form: 079UP-5

Trevelyn's Corn^t⁷⁹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 120

40/1

Expensive point recruit who went the wrong way for Paul Nicholls after a winning a maiden hurdle at Wincanton in March 2019. Off over 2 years and has moved yard prior to this chasing bow.

Form: 1410P/

Ascot De Bruyere^b²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 120| CD

9/1

Four-time course winner who shaped as if he'd strip fitter for is reappearance at this course 21 days ago, so one to consider dropping in grade.

Form: 3/1P2F-3

Kalaharry¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Callum Bewley| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 114| C| D

12/1

Fortunate to take 2m Hexham handicap chase in May, although only lost out on the nod at Bangor next time. Might well have needed his return at Bangor recently.

Form: 632-126

Dragonfruit^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 114

11/4

Doubled his chase tally at Bangor on return and backed it up with a creditable second at Ayr, so no obvious reason why he won't give another good account.

Form: 16P7-12

Frimeur De Lancray³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Ryan Mania| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 114

5/1

Fairly useful hurdles winner (at 19.3f) who has been soundly beaten in a couple of outings over fences to date. Others preferred.

Form: F/414-69

Chanting Hill²¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: C O'Farrell| T: N W Alexander| OR: 109| BF| D

8/1

Low-mileage 7-y-o who double her tally over fences with a gutsy display at Kelso in March. Underperformed at the same course next time, but remains with potential back from 7 months off.

Form: P/1F41-5

Slainte Mhor^p⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 105

13/2

Opened his chase account with game display at Ayr in the spring but he has failed to build on it, last of 3 at the same course last time. Others are more appealing.

Form: 41U-433

Scoop The Pot^p³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Alain Cawley| T: B Haslam| OR: 105| CD

11/1

Veteran who hasn't been quite on his game on either outing this autumn but he's nicely handicapped if he can find some spark with cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 27-0356

Non-Runners

Cudgel¹

Weight: 10-0| Age: 8

T: J Walton J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Dragonfruit (11/4), Mr Scrumpy (9/2), Frimeur De Lancray (5/1), Slainte Mhor (13/2), Chanting Hill (8/1), Ascot De Bruyere (9/1), Cudgel (10/1), Scoop The Pot (11/1), Kalaharry (12/1), Trevelyn's Corn (40/1)

DRAGONFRUIT beat a next-time-out winner on reappearance then posted a solid effort when second in a better class of race than this at Ayr 23 days ago, so he's chanced to regain the winning threat. Veteran Ascot de Bruyere is an obvious danger from a lenient mark and Chanting Hill could have a bigger effort in her if she's tuned up for this reappearance.