15:35 Hereford

Monday 30 January 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Ely Memorial Fund Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 6m 30.50s

Robinstown^t⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: D F O'Regan| T: C Collins| OR: 131

20/1

Fairly useful hurdler who made a successful debut for this yard on return at Clonmel in October. However, well held both subsequent starts (tried in cheekpieces last time) and looks up against under top-weight starting out over fences here.

Form: 3P5-105

Hold That Taught³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 127

15/2

Scored at Carlisle on last season's reappearance but has continued to be held back by his jumping since, including when fifth at Haydock (28.4f) last time. Still, he would have a serious chance off this reduced mark granted a fluent round of jumping.

Form: 1P3F-45

Almazhar Garde^p,t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: B Roberts⁽⁷⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 127

16/1

Hit the crossbar 3 times off significantly higher marks than this last term but he hasn't shown much spark so far this season.

Form: 20-5F8P

Checkitout^p³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 127

40/1

Ended last season on a downer and reappearance effort at Ffos Las wasn't particularly inspiring. Conversely, that run was probably needed (first start for 9 months) and he's now 3 lb lower than when scoring over 27.7f at Fontwell last January.

Form: 3510P-P

Only The Bold^p,t⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 127

2/1

Fairly useful hurdles winner for Evan Williams and, having changed hands for £30,000 last spring, he proved a different proposition when making an impressive chase debut at Bangor (3m) at the end of November. Up 10 lb but he may well have more to offer in this sphere,

Form: 3/7602-1

Orrisdale^p³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: K Brogan| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 126| C

28/1

Developed into a useful chaser last term, signing off with a couple of small-field victories in 21f handicaps at this course. No show so far this season, though, and he could do with the ground drying out.

Form: 611-4PP

Amateur^p²¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: R T Dunne| T: J L Flint| OR: 125

125/1

Justified good support when landing West Wales National for second successive year at Ffos Las (28f) last spring. However, pulled up both starts since and he's entitled to need the run following a 7-month break.

Form: 55P1P-P

Lieutenant Rocco^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: T Scudamore| T: S Hosie| OR: 125

7/1

Dual winner of novice hurdles during 2019/20 campaign and made up into a useful chaser the following season. No real impact in 4 runs for new yard (all over hurdles) since returning to action in November but dangerous discount back in this sphere off a potentially handy mark.

Form: P8-P574

High Stakes²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 121

6/1

Point/hurdle winner who had a wind op before posting a good third of 8 in handicap chase at Catterick (25.2f) in November. Failed to build on that with a tongue strap enlisted (discarded here) at Sandown since and he's probably worth taking on here.

Form: P-13835

The Kings Writ³⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 119

16/1

Snapped a long losing run with a narrow success on deep ground at Warwick (3m) on New Year's Eve, making all and jumping well. Remains on a good mark following 4 lb rise and another bold show likely if in a similar mood.

Form: 5PU6-P1

Key Commander¹⁹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 115| D

33/1

Fairly useful handicap chaser at his best but operated below best on Irish soil (mainly over hurdles) in 2022 and subsequently sold from Eoin Doyle £12,000 in August.

Form: P4B-540

Eaton Collina¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 110| BF| C

10/3

Hurdles winner here last term. Just respectable efforts in a pair of completed starts over fences but was travelling well when unseating 4 out upped to 24.2f at Wetherby recently and, on that evidence, he's well worth another chance off this mark.

Form: 41U-34U

Forecasts

Only The Bold (2/1), Eaton Collina (10/3), High Stakes (6/1), Lieutenant Rocco (7/1), Hold That Taught (15/2), The Kings Writ (16/1), Almazhar Garde (16/1), Robinstown (20/1), Orrisdale (28/1), Key Commander (33/1), Checkitout (40/1), Amateur (125/1)

ONLY THE BOLD created a good impression when making a winning start over fences for new connections in this headgear combination at Bangor, leaving the impression that there's more to come from him as a chaser. It's unlikely that a 10 lb rise will be enough to prevent him from following up here, for all that this is a deeper race. Lieutenant Rocco returns to this sphere on an attractive mark and is next on the list ahead of Eaton Collina and The King's Writ, while Checkitout is also considered.