13:15 Ffos Las

Thursday 16 December 2021

All12:1012:4013:1513:5014:2514:5515:25

Cazoo Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 5m 44.40s

Southern Sam⁷⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 122

3/1

Landed Uttoxeter novice hurdle before promising third in 3m handicap at Exeter on his debut over fences later in 2019 for Oliver Sherwood. Has a long absence to overcome but is no forlorn hope.

Form: 232513/

Ashfield Paddy³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: K Brogan⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 122

3/1

Back over fences with good second of 11 in handicap chase at Bangor (20.3f) 36 days ago, despite jumping none too fluently. Merits consideration despite 3 lb rise.

Form: 6332-P2

Oneupmanship³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| OR: 120| BF| C

3/1

Made encouraging return when fourth in 3m handicap hurdle here 39 days ago. Real chasing type, so he's an interesting prospect now sent over fences.

Form: 23241-4

Downtown Getaway^t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 120| D

22/1

Useful winner over hurdles, but he's yet to match that form in two runs over fences, tongue strap on when pulled up in 3m handicap at Chepstow 12 days ago. Has it to prove now.

Form: P10/0-3P

El Paso Wood^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 117| D

16/1

Notched up 4-timer in the French Provinces this autumn. Had wind op before unseated rider 2nd on yard bow in handicap chase at Aintree (25.8f) 12 days ago. Weighted to go well here if none the worse.

Form: 31111U

Party Fuzz^t²⁸²

17/2

Fair maiden hurdler who signed off with good fourth in novice at Exeter (23.1f) in the spring. Returns for his chase debut and he can't be discounted.

Form: 03/3834-

Honorary Colonel²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Jones| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 113

4/1

16/1, made encouraging chasing bow when second of 13 in handicap at Lingfield (20f) 21 days ago. Should improve, and he's well in the mix.

Form: 364P-22

Judge Earle^p1,t⁸⁸⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 106

100/1

Off since pulled up in 26f handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot over 2 years ago. Beaten in a match on his chasing bow, so he has a bit to prove on his comeback run now.

Form: 07012P/

Non-Runners

Poldark Cross⁵¹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: H Whittington J: D A Jacob

Forecasts

Southern Sam (3/1), Ashfield Paddy (3/1), Oneupmanship (3/1), Honorary Colonel (4/1), Party Fuzz (17/2), Poldark Cross (10/1), El Paso Wood (16/1), Downtown Getaway (22/1), Judge Earle (100/1)

A case can be made for a few of these, so at the likely odds it's worth siding with ONEUPMANSHIP to make a winning start in this sphere given he looks a real chasing type and posted an encouraging reappearance fourth over hurdles here last month. Honorary Colonel is fancied to build on his Lingfield second and is next on the list with both El Paso Wood and Ashfield Paddy well in the mix too.