14:25 Leicester

Wednesday 31 January 2024

All13:5014:2514:5515:2515:5516:25

Best Ticket Deals Online At leicesterracecourse.co.uk Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 13.9s

Hurricane Vichi^p,t²¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 99

4/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, creditable third of 7 in handicap hurdle at Stratford (22f, good to soft, 9/2). First run for yard after leaving Milton Harris. Moody display on chasing debut (penultimate start) but could take to it better this time.

Form: 825-5P3

Tara Cove^t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 93WS

11/2

Winning pointer who has been brought along steadily over hurdles and looks the type to up his game now switched to this sphere. One to be interested in, particularly if the market speaks in his favour back from wind op.

Form: 11-9645

Caeruleum^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: R Walford| OR: 89| BF

11/4

Upped his game switched to fences for the first time when 4¼ lengths second to Percy Veering at Exeter last month. Disappointing at Wincanton last time but worth another chance.

Form: 576-624

Nine Nine Nine⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: S-J Davies| OR: 83

14/1

Slipped up at 10th in handicap chase (15/2) at Hereford, then unseated early at this course 8 days ago. Had been in reasonable form prior to last two outings, so not discounted.

Form: 5/F24RU

General Hubble^v1¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 83| D

6/1

Much improved sent handicap hurdling in cheekpieces and he got off the mark at Market Rasen (23f) in November. Not in same form next time and stable is quiet. Visored for chasing debut.

Form: 5904-17

Patient Owner^v1⁷⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 78WS

5/1

Found just one too good on chase debut at Uttoxeter in December 2022 but seemingly gone the wrong way since and pulled up both starts this season. Has had a wind op and visor also tried here. Check the betting.

Form: 23P5-PP

Deadly Missile¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 72

9/1

Point winner who has bettered his bumper/hurdles form tackling fences, making the frame on several occasions. Needs to bounce back from a couple of poor runs, though.

Form: 4F2255

Committee Of One^p1,t⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: R T Dunne| T: T R Gretton| OR: 72

25/1

Fallen long way in weights since opening her account at Ffos Las during early 2021 but failed to build on her reappearance when only fourth in handicap hurdle at Bangor a couple of months ago. Returns to chasing with something to prove. Cheekpieces tried.

Form: 0P/P5-34

Non-Runners

Hilltown²⁵

Weight: 10-2| Age: 6

T: J W Mullins J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Caeruleum (11/4), Hurricane Vichi (4/1), Patient Owner (5/1), Tara Cove (11/2), Hilltown (6/1), General Hubble (6/1), Deadly Missile (9/1), Nine Nine Nine (14/1), Committee Of One (25/1)

TARA COVE has already won three points and, while he was only able to achieve modest form over hurdles, there's a good chance he will up his game now switched to the larger obstacles, so he's preferred to Caeruleum, who made a positive chasing debut on his penultimate outing. Nine Nine Nine is also respected.