15:50 Kempton

Saturday 18 March 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1715:5016:2517:00

Virgin Bet Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:52 | Winning time: 6m 32.92s

Southern Sam¹¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 119

10/3

Very lightly raced for his age and ran well after another 9-month absence when chasing home French Paradoxe (winner again since) at Wetherby (24.2f, soft) in November. Clearly goes well fresh and remains unexposed in this sphere, so there is plenty of cause for optimism.

Form: 513/32-2

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Just Don't Know⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Craig Nichol| T: Paul Robson| OR: 118| D

9/2

Successful twice last term and notched second win of the current campaign at Ayr (3m) last weekend, looking very much in control before his sole rival fell at the second-last. Bold show likely.

Form: 4-22141

Harlem Soul⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jordan Nailor| T: S Hosie| OR: 121

28/1

Has taken well to chasing for a Flat-bred, scoring twice over 2½m at Wincanton in December. However, he struggled off this mark at the same course last time and stamina has to be taken on trust now upped in trip.

Form: 061315

Ede'iffs Elton^p,t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Cobden| T: R Walford| OR: 115| BF

9/1

All 3 career wins have come over fences at Wincanton but proved a major let-down on first run following a wind op there last month. Others make greater appeal.

Form: 4-PF344

Putdecashonthedash^p,t⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 112

16/1

Signed off last season on a winning note at Plumpton but, having failed to complete on first 2 starts this time round, he was well beaten at Wincanton last time. Probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: P51-PF0

Animal⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 108

10/3

Opened chase account from 3 lb lower mark at Fakenham last January and arrives here on the back of a near-miss at Stratford (22.6f) where stayed on well in the closing stages. Unexposed at this trip and should be in the mix, provided this doesn't come too soon.

Form: 3-63372

Mister Murchan^p1⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R Rowe| OR: 105| D

20/1

Has dipped below last winning mark but very lightly-raced in recent times and has failed to fire on each of his 3 starts so far this season. Hopes pinned on first-time cheekpieces sparking a revival.

Form: 4/62-5P5

Uallrightharry^p⁴⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Brendan Powell| T: K Jewell| OR: 104| D

11/1

Runner-up 4 times last season and got his head in front for the first time since October 2019 when scoring in decisive fashion at Plumpton in December. He's not the most reliable on the whole, though, and was below par next time.

Form: 2P-P514

I'm A Starman^b²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: M G Rimell| OR: 96

9/2

Dual hurdles winner who bettered his previous chase efforts by some way when third of 12 in first-time blinkers at Carlisle (2½m) last month. Remains on an attractive mark and could have a part to play back up in trip here.

Form: 62-4P83

Non-Runners

Northern Poet²³

Weight: 11-5| Age: 8

T: N J Gifford J: James Davies

Ozzie Man⁴⁰

Weight: 11-3| Age: 7

T: G & J Moore J: David Noonan

Forecasts

Animal (10/3), Southern Sam (10/3), Just Don't Know (9/2), I'm A Starman (9/2), Northern Poet (6/1), Ozzie Man (8/1), Ede'iffs Elton (9/1), Uallrightharry (11/1), Putdecashonthedash (16/1), Mister Murchan (20/1), Harlem Soul (28/1)

The reliable JUST DON'T KNOW didn't achieve much when allowed to come home alone at Ayr last weekend, but he looked firmly in control at the time of his sole rival's departure and further success could be on the cards. The lightly-raced Southern Sam is an obvious danger, resuming from a break on the same mark as when chasing home a progressive type on his reappearance at Wetherby, while I'm A Starman also enters calculations, along with Animal.