14:50 Wincanton

Wednesday 5 April 2023

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:05

Chard Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 18.40s

Ithaka⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: R Potter| OR: 100| C

2/1

Didn't show much over hurdles for Ronan McNally in Ireland and on first 3 starts for his current yard. However, dropped in grade, justified strong support when landing handicap at this course (21.4f) 9 days ago. Not taken lightly on chase debut.

Form: 007091

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Begin The Luck^h²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Reed| T: B Barr| OR: 93

7/1

Twenty runs since his last win in May 2021 but has made the frame on his last 2 starts, only narrowly denied when runner-up in handicap hurdle at this course (19.8f) last month. Task is build on his recent form as he now goes over fences.

Form: 225742

Hard Frost^p,t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 86

2/1

Bred for chasing and improved on his hurdles form at the first attempt over fences when runner-up in handicap at Market Rasen (17.2f) 15 days ago, just failing. Open to improvement and can get off the mark back up in trip.

Form: 8-90262

Toad Of Toad Hall¹¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 82

20/1

Didn't need to improve when off the mark in 3-runner handicap chase at Fontwell (3m2f) in June. Off 5 months following that success and below form on his 3 outings since, well held at Taunton when last seen in December.

Form: P-216P6

Broadoak³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs F M Shaw| OR: 73

11/2

Lightly-raced 8-y-o who has been going the right way sent chasing this season, a late mistake proving costly when runner-up in handicap over C&D a month ago. Can give another good account.

Form: 06-0P32

My Rockstar⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: Mrs H E Rees| OR: 71

15/2

After 9 months off, went with a glimmer of promise when mid-field in handicap at Taunton (18.2f) on chase debut in December. However, failed to build on that effort at the same C&D next time and he remains with little form.

Form: P76P-67

Non-Runners

Milanford¹²

Weight: 12-2| Age: 9

T: S Hosie J: Non Runner

Turnaway⁴⁰

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Mix Master³⁴

Weight: 10-3| Age: 9

T: Katy Price J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Hard Frost (2/1), Ithaka (2/1), Broadoak (11/2), Begin The Luck (7/1), My Rockstar (15/2), Turnaway (15/2), Milanford (14/1), Toad Of Toad Hall (20/1), Mix Master (25/1)

HARD FROST bettered his hurdles form at the first attempt over fences when runner-up at Market Rasen 15 days ago, closing all the way to the line, and he is open to progress now back up in trip. The 6-y-o is taken to see off the challenge of Ithaka, who showed improved form when scoring over hurdles here last time, with Broadoak the pick of the remainder.