16:20 Hereford

Monday 4 November 2024

All13:3814:0814:4015:1515:4516:20

Matt Sheppard Slow Two Miler Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 3m 59.09s

Stumps Or Slips^b1,t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Jones| T: T H Weston| OR: 98| D

10/1

Successful twice in 2023 and best effort of this year so far when going close at Huntingdon (16.5f, good) during the spring. Well below par over 2½m the last twice and while dropping back in trip and the first-time blinkers are sources of hope, it's his jumping that is the primary concern.

Form: U4-2387

River Gold^t⁵^{(ex 7)}

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁵⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 99| D

9/2

French recruit who struggled in 4 runs for Nicky Henderson. Down the field on debut for new yard in a Plumpton handicap hurdle but left that well behind when making a winning chasing bow at Fakenham (16.3f, good) last week. More will be needed here under a penalty but she's unexposed in this sphere.

Form: P2-8851

Famoso²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 97| CD

7/1

Largely consistent type who bagged a C&D handicap chase off an 8 lb lower mark in January. No surprise that he struggled back hurdling (first run in that sphere since 2022) when returning from a break at Ludlow and better can be expected here (form figures over fences at this course read 312322).

Form: 235-227

Good Lord^t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: G Sheehan| T: Billy Aprahamian| OR: 97| D

10/3

Flat winner in Germany and, following a wind op and fitted with a tongue strap, he duly left his initial hurdles form behind switched to handicaps last winter, dotting up at Plumpton before going close at Market Rasen soon after. Should step up on last month's return/chase debut and merits respect.

Form: 8/6012-4

Mordred^h⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Benjamin Poste| T: H Dickin| OR: 97

14/1

Has failed to add to 2022 chase debut success at Sedgefield in 5 subsequent starts over fences but he performed above market expectations when placed in handicaps at Uttoxeter and Newton Abbot (both at around 2m on good/good to firm) during the summer. Latest run can be overlooked and he's a player.

Form: 5P3/328

Extraordinary Man^p²⁸⁷

10/1

Returned from a break when opening chase account off a 2 lb lower mark in this race 12 months ago. Too free when running poorly (pulled up) at Plumpton (17f, soft) on latest start in January but forecast quicker ground here will help and each-way claims, provided he settles this time.

Form: 44122P-

Ben Buie^v²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley| OR: 91| CD

16/5

Three of his 7 chase wins have come here (including 2022 renewal of this race) and mark on the slide following a series of below par efforts since. Positives to glean from latest run over 21f here (shaped as though this drop back in trip would be a good thing) but he's too hit and miss for comfort.

Form: P-3P8F6

Iwa²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 89

18/1

Fair hurdler/chaser in France but failed to match that form in a handful of appearances for Rose Dobbin. Effort on return/debut for this yard over hurdles at Kelso was low-key, too, and he's readily passed over.

Form: 1/P44P-8

Pittsburg^t¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Conor Ring| T: R Potter| OR: 88| D

33/1

Took advantage of his fall in the weights when recording a third win over fences at Uttoxeter (2m, soft) in July. Has struggled since, though, both in this sphere and on the Flat, and he's probably worth taking on.

Form: 551F83

Goaheadwiththeplan²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: Mrs D O'Neill| OR: 85| D

25/1

Winner of a Uttoxeter handicap chase back in July 2022. Lightly-raced since and while he proved that ability remains when making the frame in back-to-back runs at Worcester in August/September, his latest performance at Exeter left much to be desired.

Form: 1/P034P

The Big Man^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 77

11/1

Last of 5 sole start in bumpers and down the field in varied events over hurdles. However, he offered something to work on when fourth of 8 on return/chase debut at Ffos Las (2m, soft) and this 5-y-o should be all the better for that experience.

Form: 50677-4

Lonimoss Bareliere^b,t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: James Best| T: B R Summers| OR: 74

80/1

Long-standing maiden who excelled himself from out of the weights when second at Stratford in July. However, he was in nothing like the same form at Warwick next time and it's probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: PP-552P

Forecasts

Ben Buie (16/5), Good Lord (10/3), River Gold (9/2), Famoso (7/1), Extraordinary Man (10/1), Stumps Or Slips (10/1), The Big Man (11/1), Mordred (14/1), Iwa (18/1), Goaheadwiththeplan (25/1), Pittsburg (33/1), Lonimoss Bareliere (80/1)

The vote goes to GOOD LORD, who was much-improved switched to handicaps over hurdles in the second half of last season and there were positives to take from his chase debut at Sedgefield where he understandably looked short of match-fitness following an eight-month absence. A line can be drawn through Mordred's latest effort and he is feared on the strength of his creditable placed efforts prior to that, while Famoso and River Gold are others to consider.