16:10 Hereford

Tuesday 17 October 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Bill Chapman Memorial Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 5m 7.00s

Ben Buie^v²²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley| OR: 96| C

9/2

Enjoyed a productive spell towards the end of 2022/23 campaign and right back to his best when able to dominate with the visor refitted at Warwick (16.2f, good) last month. He's never managed to win off a mark this high, though, and doesn't always find a great deal when push comes to shove.

Form: 11P-P41

Fanzio^b,t⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Brendan Powell| T: L Hurley| OR: 95WS

50/1

Ended time with Richard Hobson with success at Taunton (2m) in March but hasn't shown much form in 5 starts for his current yard, pulled up on his last 2 outings. Wind op needs to help spark a return to form.

Form: 178-4PP

Family Pot^t¹⁹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Ben Jones| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 91| CD

10/3

Won both outings at this venue in February, latterly over C&D off just a 2 lb lower mark. Creditable third when last seen in April (also over this C&D) and proved that he can go well fresh when scoring on seasonal reappearance last term, so ticks plenty of the right boxes.

Form: 6311P3-

Sinister Minister^b,t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁵⁾| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 88

11/4

Consistent if not a tad frustrating since switched to fences, albeit he finally got the job done when accounting for 5 rivals in a conditional jockeys' handicap at Bangor (20.3f, soft) 13 days ago. 3 lb rise tolerable and, with Finn Lambert again booked, he has to enter calculations.

Form: 362321

Shot Tower^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: D A Jacob| T: Joe Ponting| OR: 87

15/2

Poor form over hurdles and while he was runner-up on second start in this sphere from a long way out of the handicap at Newton Abbot, that was in a 3-runner race and he was probably flattered (subsequent Worcester effort arguably confirms that impression). Others preferred.

Form: 37-6724

Sir Jack West^h,t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Chris Ward⁽³⁾| T: Deborah Cole| OR: 86| D

4/1

Stepped up on chase debut display when scoring at Worcester (2½m, good to soft) in May. Hasn't show much in 2 starts over hurdles since returning from a break, but excuses last time (didn't stay 23.3f on slow ground at Uttoxeter) and merits respect back in this sphere on a winning mark.

Form: 3-1355P

The Boat¹⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 80

15/2

Did the job well when doubling his tally at Leicester (22.7f, good to firm) last December, but it was all downhill thereafter and he resumes from a 6-month absence with a point to prove.

Form: 213P4P-

Non-Runners

Hellfire Princess¹⁴⁹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: Kerry Lee J: R Patrick

Forecasts

Sinister Minister (11/4), Family Pot (10/3), Sir Jack West (4/1), Ben Buie (9/2), The Boat (15/2), Shot Tower (15/2), Hellfire Princess (8/1), Fanzio (50/1)

The one who appeals most is FAMILY POT, who made a winning reappearance last season on the back of a similar period of absence and is just 2 lb above the mark off which he gained the second of his two victories here in February. Sir Jack West should be spot-on following a couple of spins over hurdles and he is feared most ahead of recent Bangor scorer Sinister Minister.