14:50 Plumpton

Sunday 22 September 2024

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:50

Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 4m 58.36s

Almost Gotaway³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 100| D

6/1

A three-time hurdle winner early in 2023. Off for over a year before making a satisfactory chase debut at Stratford in July but wasn't in same form when sixth of 11 in handicap chase at Worcester (20f, good) 34 days ago. Still not fully discounted in this company.

Form: 711/3-36

Belgarum^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 99

13/8

Dual winner at Fontwell this summer, producing a career best when emphatically landing a 10-runner handicap chase there 23 days ago. 10 lb rise asks for bit more but he's very much on the shortlist.

Form: P-314U1

Lunar Contact^t1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: T Ellis| OR: 95

11/2

Fair form over hurdles for Alan King in 2022/23 but offered little back under Rules when last of 6 in handicap hurdle (11/1) at Fontwell (21.8f, good to firm) 23 days ago. Has won a point, so may have more say making his chase debut.

Form: P31-2F6

Definite^t⁴³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Bradley Harris⁽³⁾| T: H Dickin| OR: 89

50/1

Fairly useful performer at best on Flat (stays 1¼m) but failed to better poor form in 5 starts over hurdles last summer. Doesn't strike as an obvious winner switched to chasing after 14 months off.

Form: 6/3R44-

Ray's The One^t⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: James Best| T: M Pattinson| OR: 83

16/1

Little recent show over hurdles and came off the bridle some way out when fifth of 11 in handicap chase at Stratford (19.4f, good) on debut over fences 63 days ago. Difficult to fancy.

Form: 0849-85

Invictus De Brion^p1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 79| C

7/2

Poor maiden hurdler but did show aptitude for chasing when 17 lengths third of 10 to Belgarum in handicap chase (9/2) at Fontwell (21.6f, good to firm) fences 23 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 5PP/443

Noah's Light^t,p³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: R P McLernon| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 78| D

16/1

Surprise winner under a change of tactics when opening his account over fences at Newton Abbot (21f, good to soft) in July but couldn't back that up when eighth of 11 in handicap chase at Market Rasen (21.4f, good to firm, 12/1) 36 days ago. Opposable on balance of form.

Form: 7-2P518

Herecomeshogan^v,t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Daire James McConville⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 78

8/1

Runner-up at Hereford in January but yet to make much of an impact since, only sixth of 13 in handicap chase at Worcester (16.5f, good) 11 days ago. Others are preferred.

Form: 628-766

Churchtown Glen⁴⁹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: Miss M P Bryant| OR: 64| D

125/1

Fair hurdler/chaser at his best but it's been several years since he's shown anything worthwhile and there's no reason to think he'll fare any better on return from 16 months off.

Form: 3454P/P-

Non-Runners

Into The Sunset¹⁶

Weight: 10-9| Age: 7

T: D McCain Jnr J: Theo Gillard

Glorious Mist⁶³

Weight: 10-2| Age: 7

T: P Butler J: M Goldstein

Forecasts

Belgarum (13/8), Invictus De Brion (7/2), Lunar Contact (11/2), Almost Gotaway (6/1), Into The Sunset (6/1), Herecomeshogan (8/1), Noah's Light (16/1), Ray's The One (16/1), Glorious Mist (20/1), Definite (50/1), Churchtown Glen (125/1)

BELGARUM is an obvious selection in this field after his facile success at Fontwell last time. Invictus de Brion was third in that contest and can make the placings again with chase experience now under his belt, with Almost Gotaway a modest pick for third.