13:55 Huntingdon

Friday 27 January 2023

All12:5513:2513:5514:3015:0015:3516:10

Pertemps Network Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:56 | Winning time: 6m 18.35s

Jack Doyen²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: B I Case| OR: 100

16/1

Placed in points but no better than mid-field in maiden/novice hurdles and pulled up after making a serious blunder on chase debut at Uttoxeter (3m) 27 days ago. Improvement needed.

Form: 22-945P

Tommy Tracey^p,t1⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: P R Webber| OR: 98WS

40/1

Placed in an Irish point and ran to a fair level when runner-up in an Ascot maiden hurdle last year. However, not much encouragement sent chasing this season, let down his jumping at Leicester last time. Has had another wind op and tongue tie now added.

Form: 2724-P4

Furkash^p³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 95

9/1

Fontwell novice hurdle winner in November 2020 but has subsequently failed to match that level of form, typically struggling with his jumping over fences when pulled up at Lingfield (2m6f) in December. Needs to cut out the errors.

Form: 2F5-U3P

Born At Midnight³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: W G M Turner| OR: 89

11/2

After 12 months off, showed improved form with wins at Taunton (23f) and Wincanton (26.7f) from his first 3 starts of the current campaign. Below-par effort when pulled up at Fontwell on Boxing Day, but could well bounce back given his previous form.

Form: 2F-121P

Spotty Dog⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: M Hawker| OR: 89

12/1

Never landed a blow on return at Leicester (22.7f) last month, but shaped as if better for the run after 10 months off and has now dropped to a career-low mark. Could be capable of getting involved if on a going day.

Form: UP924-6

Artemision^t⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 85

11/1

Placed a couple of times in handicap chases for Ben Pauling last season but record has a patchy look to it and, following a third wind op, hasn't offered much in 2 starts this season for his current yard. Has dropped further in the weights, though.

Form: 203P-34

R Bernard¹⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Alan Johns| T: S Allwood| OR: 84

9/2

Upped in trip, produced his best effort over hurdles when only narrowly denied at Wetherby (24.1f) in March. After 7 months off, probably needed the run when mid-field at Worcester in October. Makes chase debut and remains unexposed at this distance.

Form: 47492-8

Gibberwell^v1³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Max Kendrick| T: J Coulson| OR: 82

15/2

Ex-Irish hurdler who landed a Wexford maiden hurdle back in October 2020. Fair form at best over hurdles since then, but has finished down the field at Wetherby sent chasing on his last 2 starts.

Form: 5P6-P79

Cloudy Wednesday¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁵⁾| T: C Fryer| OR: 80| D

10/1

Runner-up in novice handicap hurdle at Fakenham (2m4f) in May but below that level in his 3 subsequent outings. Probably needed the run at this course 14 days ago, but others still preferred as he makes his handicap chase debut.

Form: 05-2650

Earcomesbob^t⁸⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Pritchard| OR: 76| D

4/1

Placed 3 times in handicaps last winter before form tailed off in the spring. After 7 months off (had wind op), looked rusty when fourth at Hereford (25.2f) in November. Should be sharper for the run, though, and has dropped to a handy mark. Tongue tie back on.

Form: 33255-4

Twistedfirestarter^b1,t⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: R Spencer| OR: 76WS

9/1

Modest form in bumpers but couldn't match that level over hurdles last season. Failed to complete on seasonal/chase debut at Fontwell in November, but has had a wind op since and now has blinkers on first-time/tongue tie reapplied. Could yet do better.

Form: 7/079F-U

Forecasts

Earcomesbob (4/1), R Bernard (9/2), Born At Midnight (11/2), Gibberwell (15/2), Furkash (9/1), Twistedfirestarter (9/1), Cloudy Wednesday (10/1), Artemision (11/1), Spotty Dog (12/1), Jack Doyen (16/1), Tommy Tracey (40/1)

BORN AT MIDNIGHT was in good form prior to a disappointing effort last time, successful on 2 of his first 3 starts of the campaign, so he is taken to leave his latest run behind and bounce back to winning ways. Earcomesbob has dropped to a handy mark and could prove the main danger, ahead of Twistedfirestarter.