13:15 Hereford

Wednesday 21 December 2022

All12:1512:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:45

Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 5m 29.98s

Neville's Cross⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: T Lacey| OR: 140| CD

12/1

Landed 3m handicap chase at Bangor in July but below par both runs since, only eighth at Wincanton (25.1f) 46 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 1831P8

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Emir Sacree²⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 136WS

15/8

Signed off for last term with a career-best win in 2m3f handicap chase at Chepstow 9 months ago. Returns after a wind op now and he's much respected.

Form: 16/1231-

Kap Auteuil¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: K Brogan| T: T Lawes| OR: 135

12/1

Three-time chase winner last season but he was pulled up in handicap chase at Aintree (19.9f) 18 days ago. Needs to get back on track.

Form: 4716-5P

Yes Indeed^t1³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 133

7/2

Fairly useful winning chaser who shaped as if in need of the run on his return when sixth of 10 in handicap chase at Wetherby (19.4f) 39 days ago. Tongue strap goes back on and he can give a good account.

Form: 15623-6

Nocte Volatus^t²⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 132

4/1

Took very well to fences last term, winning 3 times, and rare error when unseated rider 10th in handicap chase at Haydock (19.9f) 8 months ago. Player on his return off a handy-looking mark.

Form: R1F12U-

Magic Dancer^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 128

6/1

Resumed with a career-best success in 9-runner handicap chase at Cheltenham (20.2f) 40 days ago. Up 3 lb but he's not taken lightly in his hat-trick bid.

Form: 35321-1

Equus Dancer^p1⁵⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 128| D

16/1

Useful winning chaser when last seen out 18 months ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time and he's no forlorn hope after his long absence.

Form: U341/11-

Non-Runners

Galop De Chasse¹⁹

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: Miss V Williams J: Charlie Deutsch

Hollywoodien⁴²

Weight: 10-10| Age: 11

T: T Symonds J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Emir Sacree (15/8), Yes Indeed (7/2), Nocte Volatus (4/1), Galop De Chasse (11/2), Magic Dancer (6/1), Kap Auteuil (12/1), Neville's Cross (12/1), Equus Dancer (16/1), Hollywoodien (16/1)

A few with chances but Tom Lacey's NOCTE VOLATUS took well to fences last term and resumes on an attractive mark so gets the vote. Hat-trick seeking Magic Dancer heads the list of dangers with Galop de Chasse and Yes Indeed high on the shortlist.