13:15 Ludlow

Tuesday 20 December 2022

All12:1512:4513:1513:5014:2014:5015:25

Tanners Claret Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 6m 14.90s

Bobhopeornohope^p,t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 139| CD

7/2

Improved switch to chasing last term, scoring at Market Rasen (21.4f) on Boxing Day prior to going again over C&D in February. Placed both starts since, including when third back from 8 months off at Ascot (23.8f) 32 days ago. Possibilities.

Form: 41312-3

Frenchy Du Large³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: R T Dunne| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 130| BF| C

3/1

Won back-to-back 2½m handicaps at Uttoxeter and Chepstow around the turn of last year. Well backed on return but he again failed to complete when falling at the fourth on return at Lingfield 5 weeks ago. Still, it remains pretty early days in this sphere at least.

Form: U112F-F

Diablo De Rouhet²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 130| D

18/1

Developed into useful chaser for this yard in 2019. Proved he retains ability when third of 7 in handicap chase at Bangor (3m) in July but not in same form subsequently, pulled up in Coral Gold Cup at Newbury 24 days ago. This less demanding at least.

Form: 12/635P

Guy^p1⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 129| BF

7/1

Fairly useful chaser who has frustratingly finished runner-up on 7 of his last 8 starts over fences, including on return to action at Market Rasen (21.4f) in October. Cheekpieces go on now.

Form: 26222-2

Red Happy^b,t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 125| D

12/1

French import who landed a sixth win since March when seeing off 3 rivals at Exeter in October. Struggled since, however.

Form: 215R8P

Keep Rolling^t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 123

10/1

Dual 2m4f winner at Uttoxeter and Hereford last season who wasn't disgraced when 15 lengths third of 7 on return at Lingfield (23.5f) 5 weeks ago. However, he remains 2 lb above last winning mark and others rate stronger for win purposes here.

Form: 41315-3

Not Available^p,t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: R Patrick| T: M Sheppard| OR: 121| C

13/2

Left Henry de Bromhead and began life for his current yard in fine form, winning back-to-back handicaps last November/December. Low-key return in the autumn but more encouraging signs from career-low mark when third at Chepstow (19.5f) 17 days ago. Needs to build on that now.

Form: 443-543

Boughtbeforelunch^p⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: J J Burke| T: P R Webber| OR: 115| C

28/1

Put in an assured round of jumping when resuming winning ways at Leicester (22.7f, soft) in February. Runner-up at Southwell in May but he'll need to leave last month's Warwick run in his wake if he's to figure here.

Form: 3153-25

Volcano^p,t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Jones| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 112| CD

9/2

Warwick winner in March and comfortably posted best effort since when third over extended 25f here 3 weeks ago, notably travelling and jumping fluently for a long way. Not underestimated despite operating from out of the weights.

Form: P17-863

Non-Runners

Back On The Lash³⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: M Keighley J: Harry Skelton

Dead Right⁸⁷

Weight: 11-2| Age: 10

T: N P Mulholland J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Forecasts

Frenchy Du Large (3/1), Bobhopeornohope (7/2), Volcano (9/2), Back On The Lash (9/2), Dead Right (13/2), Not Available (13/2), Guy (7/1), Keep Rolling (10/1), Red Happy (12/1), Diablo De Rouhet (18/1), Boughtbeforelunch (28/1)

BOBHOPEORNOHOPE boasts a positive profile over fences, successful over C&D back in February and hitting the frame both starts since, including when third back from 8 months off at Ascot 32 days ago. He shades the vote to defy top weight returned to this venue, with Back On The Lash, Frenchy Du Large and Not Available others to consider.