15:00 Wincanton

Thursday 2 February 2023

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3516:1016:45

Dick Hunt 'Wigmore' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 6m 32.7s

Certainly Red²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs L Richards| OR: 135| CD

11/4

Reliable sort who has taken his form up a level in recent weeks, scoring over C&D in December before following up at Sandown (20f, soft) last month, finding extra when joined briefly run-in. 8 lb rise to contend with but clearly in excellent heart so could be up to completing the hat-trick.

Form: 241-B11

Kapga De Lily⁷⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 135| D

22/1

Likeable mare who made a winning reappearance last season and followed up at Hereford in December. Respectable return when fourth back in handicap company at Ascot (23.8f, good to soft) in November but others appeal more for win purposes.

Form: 2/1155-4

Tallow For Coal³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 132

16/1

Took his form up a notch on return when impressively bagging 7-runner handicap chase at Lingfield (23.5f, soft) in November. Ran no sort of race at Newbury since but he's the type to bounce back quickly.

Form: 41P2-1P

Moroder³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: James Best| T: J W Mullins| OR: 132

25/1

Much improved in the spring and completed his four-timer in handicap chase at Exeter. Looked rusty when pulled up in handicap chase at Newbury (26f) 33 days ago so needs to bounce back.

Form: 61111-P

Copperhead^p1³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 131| CD

11/1

Grade 2 novice chase winner in early-2020. His career has been rather disappointing since though, below-par fourth of 11 in handicap hurdle here 38 days ago. Back over fences and first-time headgear is applied to try and spark a revival.

Form: 50/P-U54

Southfield Harvest^p⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130

6/1

Useful winner at 3m over hurdles and made a winning start in this sphere at Newton Abbot in May 2021. Stepped up on reappearance with cheekpieces on when fourth at Chepstow (23.6f) a couple of months ago but will need to jump better to feature.

Form: 223/1-P4

Nearly Perfect³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: D A Jacob| T: N B King| OR: 127| CD

25/1

Low-mileage 9-y-o who looked progressive a couple of years ago but offered little on recent return at Plumpton. Can only be watched on that evidence.

Form: 13114/P

Champagne Court^p,t³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 126

28/1

Capitalised on the drop in grade at Perth and made it 2-3 this season in 3m handicap hurdle at Newbury in November. However, well held back over fences both starts since so tough to fancy.

Form: 8-1416P

Potters Legend⁷⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 125

33/1

Not the force of old but ran better than for a while from a slipping mark at Catterick in November, beaten only by a thriving sort at the time. 3 lb rise for that looks rather harsh, though.

Form: 422-542

Golden Sovereign³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 125| CD

7/1

Dual winning hurdler who opened account over fences when taking 6-runner handicap over C&D (heavy) in February 2021. Made an encouraging return after 22 months off when third over C&D on Boxing Day and that outing should've blown away any cobwebs. Interesting.

Form: 11P31/3

Neon Moon^b,t⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 123| CWS

9/1

Progressive over hurdles last season, recording his third win at this venue (21.4f, good) in April. Solid start to chasing when fifth in a handicap at Exeter in November but possibly found the race coming too soon 16 days later. Had wind op since and heads back up in trip.

Form: 711-656

Foxboro^p³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 123

5/1

Finally off the mark over fences in 2m4f handicap at Sandown last March and went in again in 9-runner handicap chase at Fontwell (21.6f) in December. Possibly failed to stay the longer trip and also made mistakes at Newbury on New Year's Day so probably best watched.

Form: 221-015

Putdecashonthedash^b,t³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 114| CD

18/1

Capitalised on easing mark to score 12 months ago and, having possibly needed run when pulled up on return, was still disputing the lead when falling at the ninth over C&D on Boxing Day. Blinkers again the headgear of choice.

Form: 3/P51-PF

Butterwick Brook^b⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁷⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 109| BF| CD

12/1

Not the most reliable type but far from disgraced sporting first-time blinkers when third of 8 in handicap chase here (20.2f) 3 months ago, needing stiffer test. A previous C&D winner, he can't be ruled out back up in trip.

Form: PP7P-23

Forecasts

Certainly Red (11/4), Foxboro (5/1), Southfield Harvest (6/1), Golden Sovereign (7/1), Neon Moon (9/1), Copperhead (11/1), Butterwick Brook (12/1), Tallow For Coal (16/1), Putdecashonthedash (18/1), Kapga De Lily (22/1), Nearly Perfect (25/1), Moroder (25/1), Champagne Court (28/1), Potters Legend (33/1)

A host in with chances but GOLDEN SOVEREIGN shaped well returning from a 22-month absence when third here on Boxing Day and with that outing sure to have blown away any cobwebs, Philip Hobbs' charge is fancied to double his tally over fences and notch C&D success number 2. Certainly Red is sure to be popular in his hat-trick bid but he may have to settle for silver, with Putdecashonthedash and Neon Moon another couple worth considering.