15:30 Hereford

Monday 14 October 2024

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:05

Kestrel Valley Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 6m 26.60s

Annie Wicks¹²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 91

14/1

Well held completed starts over hurdles but proved a different proposition on second chase start when landing mares' handicap at Taunton (21.7f, soft) in March. Collared only in the run-in over C&D next start but possibly amiss when last seen at Southwell (24.3f, good) 4 months ago.

Form: 0731-2P

Invictus Allen^p,t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 88

10/3

Strong in the market and came good in 10-runner Uttoxeter handicap chase (3¼m, soft) in July. Shaped as if still in good form back under less testing conditions 8 weeks later when a remote third at Fontwell (26f, good) last month and he's fancied to be bang there.

Form: 247-613

Selectivelistening^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: T Ellis| OR: 85| BF

9/2

Lightly-raced maiden who took a step forward when second of 12 in handicap hurdle at Fontwell in August. Sent off favourite but was possibly amiss back there (17.7f, good) a month later and now attentions are turned to the larger obstacles markedly upped in trip.

Form: 75542P

Mistymal²⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 81

15/8

Irish point winner who posted his best effort on his handicap debut when second of 8 at Southwell (20.4f, soft) in January. In nothing like the same form at Fakenham/Bangor since and makes reappearance/chase debut.

Form: P60254-

No Promises^p,t¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Benjamin Poste| T: S Cameron| OR: 73

9/1

Point winner. Tried in cheekpieces/tongue tie and showed his first form under Rules from 9 lb out of the weights when third in 27.5f Stratford handicap chase in August. Went a long way to confirming that form when fourth at Hexham earlier this month so he's no forlorn hope.

Form: P/P6034

Radharc Na Slaine^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Conor Ring| T: D A Rees| OR: 71

14/1

Been going the right way in Newton Abbot handicap chases and would have made the frame again but for a luckless late exit in August. Hooded and found recent run of form coming to a halt away from that venue at Fontwell last time so no surprise to see headgear discarded.

Form: P-U42FP

If I Say^b³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Lily Pinchin| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 71

15/2

Placed several times over fences in 2023 but has struggled since returning to hurdles, finishing a remote fifth at Fontwell last time. Much-reduced mark to work with and needs the switch back to fences to spark a revival.

Form: 3P-7645

Fox Wallace^h⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: James Best| T: Ella Pickard| OR: 64

40/1

Tailed off in a bumper and 3 hurdles last season. Showed nothing hiked up in trip on return/handicap debut (hooded and had a wind op) in July and can only be watched on chase debut.

Form: U8009-P

Forecasts

Mistymal (15/8), Invictus Allen (10/3), Selectivelistening (9/2), If I Say (15/2), No Promises (9/1), Radharc Na Slaine (14/1), Annie Wicks (14/1), Fox Wallace (40/1)

An open staying handicap chase with marginal preference for INVICTUS ALLEN, who opened his account at Uttoxeter in July and shaped as if still in good order when third at Fontwell just over 5 weeks ago. Selectivelistening was possibly amiss last time, but he would be a major threat judged on some of his earlier exploits now sent chasing so heads up the dangers, with Radharc Na Slaine and No Promises also not discounted, too.