13:25 Hereford

Wednesday 29 November 2023

All12:2012:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Blackmores Building Contractors Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:26 | Winning time: 4m 0.10s

Whyzzat⁵¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: S-J Davies| OR: 100

150/1

Fair hurdle winner in Ireland in 2021 but well beaten in Worcester handicap hurdle for this yard in July 2022 and off since. Can only watch now chasing.

Form: 1776/5-

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Dusky Days¹⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 99| D

11/2

Bumper winner who was runner-up in a Stratford handicap hurdle in April. Well held at Uttoxeter the following month and off since. Makes chase debut.

Form: P64R2-6

Phoenix Aquilus²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: James Bowen| T: S Durack| OR: 97| D

6/1

Fairly useful staying handicapper on Flat at best but just a modest maiden over hurdles. Showed an aptitude for chasing when third of 8 at Ludlow on first attempt 3 weeks ago. Place claims again.

Form: 2/30P-03

Criquette¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Bannister| T: Billy Aprahamian| OR: 92

14/1

Irish point winner but yet to better modest form in bumpers/over hurdles. Was better than being pulled up might suggest (paid price for trying to match strides with winner) in recent Fakenham handicap. Makes chase debut. Engaged 3.10 Southwell Tuesday.

Form: 59/446-P

Herecomeshogan^p,t1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 90

8/1

Dual hurdles winner at 18.5f last year, but not been in same form since, well held over C&D 23 days ago. A first-time tongue tie needs to make a difference.

Form: 7-FP578

Full Of Light^t⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: B R Summers| OR: 84

11/1

Seemingly only a modest performer these days, finishing fifth of 9 in a chase at Bangor on latest start 8 weeks ago.

Form: PP5U45

Beannaigh Do⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 74

28/1

No show over hurdles. Better signs when second on Ffos Las chase debut in April but nowhere near that level in 3 outings since, the latest over 21f here.

Form: 862-P60

Cobbs Corner²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 73

7/2

Handicap hurdle winner last autumn. Fourth of 10 on his C&D chase debut/reappearance 23 days ago and entitled to come on for the outing. High on the shortlist.

Form: 3182P-4

Loudspeaker¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Houlihan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 80| D

4/1

Disappointing over hurdles but made a successful start to his chase career at Doncaster (2m, good) 12 days ago. Effectively 5 lb higher here (including 2 lb out of weights) but it won't prevent another prominent showing if in similar form.

Form: 345P-81

Johnny Mac^t¹⁹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Lee Edwards| T: M Sheppard| OR: 68

11/2

Not disgraced first 2 starts over fences but well beaten when last seen in the spring. Has left Tom Gretton. 6 lb out of the handicap on his reappearance for in-form new yard.

Form: 79/536-P

Non-Runners

King Otis¹⁶

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: James Owen J: Non Runner

Great Threat²³

Weight: 10-10| Age: 4

T: Evan Williams J: Non Runner

Gorcombe Moonshine²³⁰

Weight: 10-3| Age: 6

T: R Walford J: Bryan Carver

Broadoak¹⁸²

Weight: 10-2| Age: 8

T: Mrs F M Shaw J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Cobbs Corner (7/2), Loudspeaker (4/1), King Otis (4/1), Gorcombe Moonshine (5/1), Johnny Mac (11/2), Dusky Days (11/2), Phoenix Aquilus (6/1), Herecomeshogan (8/1), Full Of Light (11/1), Criquette (14/1), Beannaigh Do (28/1), Broadoak (33/1), Great Threat (50/1), Whyzzat (150/1)

COBBS CORNER gets the nod to build on his C&D chase debut fourth earlier in the month and add to last season's Fakenham handicap hurdle success. Recent Doncaster winner Loudspeaker rates an obvious danger, while King Otis has won over hurdles since joining James Owen and is also respected on his first chase start for the trainer.