14:50 Market Rasen

Monday 26 December 2022

All11:5512:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

Chris Liesack Lincolnshire National Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:52 | Winning time: 7m 28.05s

Topofthecotswolds^p³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 130

33/1

Landed a second handicap chase success of the season when seeing off 4 rivals at Ludlow (25.5f) on penultimate start and not disgraced despite seeming to find drop back to 19f against him when third at Doncaster 31 days ago. Not out of things.

Form: F14313

Innisfree Lad^v³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: David Dennis| OR: 128

28/1

Useful form at best last year (third in Eider Chase at Newcastle) and all the better for reappearance run when second at Carlisle (26f) in October. However, not on a going day when pulled up at Haydock (28.4f) latest.

Form: 3P4-62P

Jet Plane^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 126

4/1

Winning hurdler who stalled in the second half of last season but left form of chasing debut well behind when bolting up in a handicap at Hereford (25.2f) 41 days ago. Handicapper has applied pressure but highly unlikely he's reached his limit.

Form: 130P-51

Calipso Collonges^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 125| C

16/1

Scored on return at Kelso (21.6f) last winter and similar form when hitting frame next 2 starts at up to 25.5f. Hard to knock his reappearance third behind well-handicapped pair at Warwick (3m) last month and expected to give another good account.

Form: 34/133-3

Small Present⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Willmott⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 125

8/1

Useful stayer over hurdles and encouragement to glean from October's return fourth over fences at Carlisle (24.5f). Similar form when midfield dropped in trip at Wetherby (19.4f) a month later and this rates a more suitable assignment.

Form: 165P-45

Achille^b²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-9| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 125| BF

14/1

Ran well in the Becher and Welsh National last term before his form tailed off. Did shape as if better for the run on return from 8 months off at Haydock (28.4f) in November but go no further than the first switched to veterans' company at Lingfield (20f) latest. Still, not underestimated.

Form: 470U-7U

Bangers And Cash³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Luca Morgan⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 125

7/2

Off the mark over fences at Taunton (23f) 12 months ago and, on back of trio of mixed efforts, he duly defied a 1 lb higher mark in good style at Exeter (24.2f) 5 weeks ago, Feasible to expect better again now tackling this longer trip.

Form: 216U-51

The Vollan^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Lewis Dobb⁽⁷⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 122

66/1

In fine fettle back over fences this year, registering fourth victory of 2022 when landing a 4-runner Kelso handicap in October. Appears to have gone off the boil judged on his last 3 starts, though, and it may well be best to look elsewhere.

Form: 251777

Cash To Ash²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr Paddy Barlow⁽⁷⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 121

9/1

Finished runner up on 4 of his 6 starts last season and back to best when filling same spot on return at Wetherby (3m) in October. Subsequent Kelso display was disappointing but bounce back rates distinctly possible.

Form: 2275-26

Geryville³⁹

14/1

Back on the scoreboard in 3-runner Newcastle handicap (23.4f) back in March and ran well on back of 6 months off when third at Wetherby (24.2f) in October. May of found race coming too soon at Newcastle a month later and he's operating from last winning mark. Had wind op.

Form: 2212-34

Eclair De Guye^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: C Brace| T: L Wadham| OR: 117

12/1

Mixed record last season but he did return with a respectable third in the London National (28.7f) at Sandown 23 days ago, promising even more before tiring on run-in. Rider takes off a handy 7 lb and worth a second look.

Form: P/37P2-3

Representing Bob^b1⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 114| BF

7/1

Won first 3 starts over fences and bettered his form in defeat subsequently, runner-up at Exeter (24.2f) 6 weeks ago, pulling well clear of the remainder. Blinkers go on to sharpen him up now and he's still unexposed as a stayer.

Form: 1212-22

Light Flicker^p²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: C J Todd| T: R Potter| OR: 114| C

12/1

Enjoyed a productive 2021/22 season, winning 3 handicap chases at up to 26.9f, and he comes here in good heart, again finding only one too good over marathon trip at Exeter (30.7f) 24 days ago. Each-way claims again.

Form: 21-7822

Seemingly So^p,t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Patrick Cowley⁽³⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 101| C

40/1

Course winner who is now just 3 lb above last winning mark but proving more miss than hit of late, merely plugging on in to fourth over extended 23f at Musselburgh 3 weeks ago. Refitting of headgear needs to have positive effect now.

Form: 722384

Who's In The Box^v1¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁵⁾| T: N Kent| OR: 100| CD

18/1

Winless since 2020 and he failed to complete for fourth time in last 6 starts at Newcastle (23.4f) 18 days ago, left behind approaching home turn and pulled up. Others make much stronger appeal.

Form: PP2-6FP

Non-Runners

Danilo D'Airy³⁰³

Weight: 11-2| Age: 9

T: R Bevis J: James Turner

Forecasts

Bangers And Cash (7/2), Jet Plane (4/1), Representing Bob (7/1), Small Present (8/1), Cash To Ash (9/1), Eclair De Guye (12/1), Light Flicker (12/1), Geryville (14/1), Achille (14/1), Calipso Collonges (16/1), Who's In The Box (18/1), Danilo D'Airy (20/1), Innisfree Lad (28/1), Topofthecotswolds (33/1), Seemingly So (40/1), The Vollan (66/1)

JET PLANE relished the increase in trip and left his chase debut effort in his wake when running away with a Hereford handicap (25.2f) 41 days ago, coasting clear up the home straight and winning easily. The handicapper has reacted but there's plenty more to come on that evidence and he earns the vote now his stamina is drawn out further. Veteran Achille is also interesting in refitted blinkers, with Eclair de Guye, Representing Bob and Bangers And Cash completing a longish shortlist.