14:57 Market Rasen

Tuesday 26 December 2023

All12:0512:4013:1513:4714:2214:5715:32

Pallinc Lincolnshire National Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:57 | Winning time: 7m 33.92s

Crosspark⁴²

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie Hammond| T: N Kent| OR: 125

25/1

Been a cracking servant over the years and ended a long losing run from a mark 17 lb lower than when last seen in a handicap in veterans event at Huntingdon on return 6 weeks ago. 5 lb rise seems fair enough and not taken lightly.

Form: 7PP33-1

Landen Calling^b,t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Liam Harrison| T: F O'Brien| OR: 124| C

22/1

Largely progressive over hurdles and run out a facile winner on chase debut at Bangor (3m) in May. Runner-up next 2 starts in small-field contests and possibly unsuited by a return to testing ground after 4 months off at Exeter last month. Stamina to prove.

Form: 28-1225

Organdi⁶⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁵⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 123

33/1

Veteran mare who took advantage of a good opportunity at Fontwell in September before unsuited by conditions at Wincanton. Likely to find this too competitive, however.

Form: 30471P

Inis Oirr^p1²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 120

11/2

Came good at fourth attempt over hurdles in February, landing a class 2 novice at Musselburgh (23.8f). Better with each start over fences this season, good second at same track last month, faring best of those held up. Headgear on and will stay. Likely to go well.

Form: 164-U42

Geryville⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: R P McLernon| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 119

10/1

Winless last season but he kept his form well and resumed with a solid fourth in handicap chase at Sedgefield (29f) in October. Much respected once more.

Form: 42234-4

Animal¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Bannister| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 117| C

4/1

Won at Kempton in March and excellent start to this season, runner-up at Leicester on return before career-best win at Sandown 18 days ago. Shapes as though he'll stay this far and needs considering.

Form: 7214-21

Keep Wondering^p,t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Fergus Gillard| T: C N Kellett| OR: 116

40/1

Fairly useful winning chaser for Philip Hobbs who shaped encouragingly when fourth in a Carlisle novice hurdle on debut for new yard on return, staying on run-in. However, disappointed back in a handicap next time so needs to bounce back on return to chasing (headgear/tongue tie reapplied).

Form: 4372-46

Concetto^p,t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 110| BF

5/1

Well held hurdling runs but proved a totally different proposition sent chasing, scoring on handicap debut at Huntingdon before following up at Musselburgh. Well held on reappearance but better since, not seen to best effect when creditable fourth of 10 at Musselburgh (23.6f, soft) last month.

Form: 127-P44

O'Connell¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 110| C

15/8

Winning Irish pointer who's getting the hang of things under Rules now, off the mark in 5-runner handicap chase at this course (23.9f, heavy) 19 days ago, travelling strongly. Big player if seeing out the trip.

Form: 45-3F21

Had To Be Hugo^v1²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: R Menzies| OR: 109

12/1

Runner-up sole outing in points and has made the frame all 7 starts under Rules, including on chase bow at Kelso on return/penultimate start. Open to progress back in this sphere. Change of headgear.

Form: 2422-33

Non-Runners

The Vollan²⁶

Weight: 10-9| Age: 9

T: L Morgan J: Lewis Dobb

Forecasts

O'Connell (15/8), Animal (4/1), Concetto (5/1), Inis Oirr (11/2), Geryville (10/1), Had To Be Hugo (12/1), The Vollan (14/1), Landen Calling (22/1), Crosspark (25/1), Organdi (33/1), Keep Wondering (40/1)

INIS OIRR did well under the circumstances when runner-up at Musselburgh last month, faring best of those from off the pace in a slowly-run affair, and he's likely to have more to offer in this sphere after just 3 runs. He gets the vote in what looks a competitive affair, with Animal and O'Connell heading the dangers.