14:40 Huntingdon

Tuesday 14 November 2023

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:48

RhinoBet Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 5m 5.83s

City Roller²¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: L Horsfall| OR: 100

16/1

Runner-up twice in bumpers and also placed in a Newcastle novice hurdle in February. However, little impact in handicaps since and needs to raise his game now switched to fences.

Form: 2P53P4-

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Regarde^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 100| C

8/11

Point winner who, having showed glimmers of ability over hurdles last term, justified strong support when making a winning return/chase debut here (23.6f, good to firm). 6 lb rise doesn't look at all harsh and, with the prospect of better to come, he should prove hard to beat.

Form: 1/4654-1

Carpe Diem⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 100

12/1

Showed more than on debut over timber when third of 8 in a Fontwell maiden (17.7f, good) in August. Subsequent fifth upped to 2½m at Uttoxeter was no backward step, but improvement needed now tackling fences if he's to make a winning start in this sphere.

Form: 3P35

Erigmoor²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 100

15/2

Displayed a fair level of ability over hurdles last season, but made a discouraging start to life over fences when returning to action here (16.5f, good). Hard to warm to on the back of that.

Form: 35524-P

Gladiatus²³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 96

14/1

Runner-up sole start in Irish points and shaped with promise when third of 10 in a novice hurdle at Chepstow (2m, good) last November. Pretty much downhill all the way thereafter, but it's by no means beyond the realms of possibility that he'll do better now sent chasing.

Form: 2/358P-

Abingworth³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 95

8/1

Gained breakthrough success over hurdles at Plumpton (20.5f, good) during the spring, but jumping lacked any sort of conviction when well held fourth of 5 on return/chase debut at Fontwell. The ability is there if he gets it together jumping-wise, but it's a pretty big 'if'.

Form: 33416-4

Perryville^p¹¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Alex Edwards| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 87

11/1

Fair form at best in maiden/novice hurdles, but he hasn't shown a great deal in 5 runs this year, including in first-time cheekpieces (retained) at Worcester last time. Opposable on chase debut.

Form: 474-865

Onesteptwosteps²³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 78

12/1

Beaten a long way all 3 starts over hurdles and while he makes his debut in this sphere (also first run in a handicap) off a lowly mark, it's hard to recommend him.

Form: 77/070-

Non-Runners

College Oak²¹

Weight: 11-9| Age: 8

T: Jamie Snowden J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Regarde (8/11), Erigmoor (15/2), Abingworth (8/1), Perryville (11/1), Carpe Diem (12/1), Onesteptwosteps (12/1), Gladiatus (14/1), City Roller (16/1), College Oak (16/1)

It's hard to envisage anything bar another convincing success for REGARDE, who left his hurdles form a long way behind when scoring at the first attempt over fences here last month. A 6 lb rise for that looks like a rare act of generosity on the handicapper's part and Jamie Snowden's charge should have more to offer. By process of elimination rather than votes of confidence, Carpe Diem and Abingworth are taken to fill the places.