16:15 Exeter

Wednesday 31 January 2024

All13:4014:1014:4515:1515:4516:1516:45

Plymouth Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 5m 3.81s

Western General³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 112| D

14/1

Made the frame first 3 starts over hurdles last term prior to landing the odds in an 18.5f Newton Abbot maiden. He hasn't shown much in a couple of runs so far this time round, though, including on chase debut (pulled up) over C&D on New Year's Day.

Form: 2421-6P

Limetree Boy²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 110

16/1

Winning hurdler and showed aptitude for chasing when third in handicap at Worcester on return in October 2022. Wasn't able to build on that effort when fifth at Chepstow 5 months later, and predictably shaped as if needing the run after another 11 months off at Leicester 3 weeks ago.

Form: F16/35-5

Bolsover Bill^p,t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Victoria Malzard⁽⁵⁾| T: Harry Derham| OR: 108| CD

4/1

Thrived with the tongue tie refitted last term, gaining a fourth success over fences at Plumpton during the spring. Below par next 3 starts but looked as good as ever when striking on debut for new yard over C&D (heavy) at the beginning of the month. 6 lb rise fair and he's a key player.

Form: 213-841

Icaque de L'Isle^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 108

18/1

Fairly useful chase winner in France and has performed to a similar level for his current yard, making the frame in handicaps at Fakenham and Plumpton since returning to action in November. Trip/ground fine and this 6-y-o is not without each-way hope.

Form: 3234-24

Lazy Sunday^t⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Ben Jones| T: R Mitford-Slade| OR: 108| CD

9/1

Completed a hat-trick in handicap chases early last year and essentially held form well since, again finding only one too good at Chepstow (23.6f, soft) in November. Easy enough to forgive her for a rare blip last time and she appeals as the type to quickly bounce back.

Form: 112-22P

Forrard Away⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: David Noonan| T: R Chapman| OR: 101

125/1

Three-time winner in Ireland but hasn't shown much in a handful of appearances for new yard.

Form: 80045-P

Moytier^p,t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: S Hosie| OR: 97

12/1

Yet to get his head in front but was going great guns when departing at the fourth-last at Wincanton (20.2f, soft) earlier this month. Should make a bold bid off the same mark here, provided that his confidence hasn't been dented by that heavy fall.

Form: 25334F

Flash Gorcombe^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 93

13/2

Back-to-back winner last spring and looked better than ever when routing the opposition at Wincanton (20.2f, soft) recently. 8 lb rise is tolerable on the face of it but couldn't be sure that the result would've been the same had Moytier not exited when travelling well 4 out.

Form: 1-24321

Saintemilion^t⁴¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Ellis Collier⁽⁷⁾| T: J D Frost| OR: 92| CD

100/1

One-time fairly useful chaser for Paul Nicholls but has shown little for current yard.

Form: 76/60-86

Lightonthewing³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: James Best| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 91| CD

18/1

Doubled his tally over fences with a likeable front-running display at Fontwell last February. Disappointed there the following month, though, and he also failed to land a blow on return over C&D in the race won by Bolsover Bill.

Form: 13U1P-5

Bonza Boy^p⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 90

11/2

Didn't kick on from a promising reappearance over hurdles last season and beaten 20+ lengths on each of his 3 starts in this sphere. Others preferred.

Form: 5584-47

Time To Bite³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Bryan Carver| T: C Honour| OR: 87| CD

11/1

Finally opened his account when landing a C&D handicap chase on penultimate start, proving 8½ lengths too strong for the re-opposing Flash Gorcombe. Arguably went off too hard when third to Bolsover Bill back here on New Year's Day and he's one to consider.

Form: 3-33513

Belgarum^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 82

8/1

On a good mark judged on peak form over hurdles but he again struggled in this sphere when a distant third in the C&D contest won by Time To Bite last month.

Form: 25-7873

Valirann Gold^t⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Ned Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: H Brown| OR: 81

8/1

Opened his account in a Chepstow handicap off this mark last January and best effort since when runner-up at Fontwell on Boxing Day. Wasn't disgraced from 13 lb out of the weights there last week and, just 3 lb 'wrong' this time, he is not discounted.

Form: 3-98525

Non-Runners

Behind The Curtain³⁶

Weight: 11-9| Age: 10

T: D Pipe J: Non Runner

King Of Brazil⁵⁰

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: Katy Price J: G Sheehan

Forecasts

Bolsover Bill (4/1), Bonza Boy (11/2), Flash Gorcombe (13/2), Valirann Gold (8/1), Belgarum (8/1), Lazy Sunday (9/1), Time To Bite (11/1), Moytier (12/1), Western General (14/1), Limetree Boy (16/1), Icaque de L'Isle (18/1), Lightonthewing (18/1), Behind The Curtain (20/1), King Of Brazil (20/1), Saintemilion (100/1), Forrard Away (125/1)

Following a breathing operation and with cheekpieces refitted, MOYTIER was very much in pole position when exiting four out at Wincanton recently, a race won by the re-opposing Flash Gorcombe. Syd Hosie's charge is now 8 lb better off with that rival and makes plenty of appeal. Valirann Gold put in a good shift at Chepstow last time, all things considered, and he is just about second choice ahead of Bolsover Bill and Time To Bite, who were first and third respectively over C&D on New Year's Day.