13:45 Huntingdon

Sunday 4 December 2022

All12:1512:4513:1513:4514:2014:5515:25

Fitzdares Wishes Everyone A Merry Christmas Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:46 | Winning time: 6m 2.19s

Potters Hedger^p,t1²³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: J M Quinlan| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 112| D

11/1

Suited by emphasis on stamina when winning handicap hurdle at Haydock (3m) 2 winters ago. Mixed record last season and has since left Lucy Wadham. Tongue tied on belated chase bow.

Form: 3/64383-

Taste The Fear^p⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 112

18/1

Fairly useful hurdle winner but made a low-key start over fences at Worcester and Hereford.

Form: 636-343

Art Of Illusion^p²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: T Scudamore| T: W Greatrex| OR: 109WS

15/8

Fair form over hurdles and he showed improved form to get off the mark at first attempt over fences at Plumpton (25.7f), making all and jumping impeccably. Similar form back down in trip when third at Lingfield and likely he can do better still in this sphere.

Form: 232513

Aki Bomaye^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 109| D

5/1

Lightly-raced maiden who made an encouraging start over fences at Worcester last November. Couldn't build on that in 3 subsequent outings but he might have needed return.

Form: 32/254-4

Great D'Ange^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 105| D

3/1

Winner at Warwick in April and still in front going well when fell heavily 4 out in handicap chase there (25.4f) a month later, Jumped much better when runner-up at Worcester and decent third back from a break at Bangor. Player.

Form: 0F1-F23

Steel Wave^b,t¹²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 101| D

22/1

Patchy form since his last win over an extended 3m at Southwell in March and others preferred.

Form: 924233

Top Decision^t³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 100

13/2

Modest winning hurdler who showed improved form when coming good over fences at Doncaster in early-2020, scoring by 10 lengths. Good second after 2 years off at Stratford 38 days ago and entitled to be sharper here.

Form: P2814/2

Counteract³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: K Brogan| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 84

16/1

Winner of first 2 starts in this sphere in March/April 2021 but no show last 4 starts.

Form: 4/28P-46

Forecasts

Art Of Illusion (15/8), Great D'Ange (3/1), Aki Bomaye (5/1), Top Decision (13/2), Potters Hedger (11/1), Counteract (16/1), Taste The Fear (18/1), Steel Wave (22/1)

ART OF ILLUSION has looked a natural over fences and the return to this longer trip can see him resume winning ways. Great d'Ange is on the upgrade judged on his last 2 placed efforts and is next best ahead of Top Decision, who shaped as if retaining all his ability returning from a long absence when second at Stratford.