14:18 Hereford

Wednesday 12 February 2025

All13:1013:4314:1814:5315:2816:0316:38

Star Sports Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:18 | Winning time: 6m 31.40s

Simple Getaway⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 100| BF

10/11

Fetched £180,000 after winning an Irish point but only minor promise on second of his 3 hurdle starts during 2023/24. Type to make a better chaser and stepped up on return/chase debut when second at Ludlow last week, clear of rest. Big shout off same mark.

Form: 1/924-42

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Scotch On Da Rocks^p1⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 91

15/2

Well held in 2 maiden hurdles for Ben Pauling at the end of last season. Stepped up on return for new yard when fifth at Plumpton on handicap bow 10 weeks ago and should make a chaser (won sole start in points). Headgear on.

Form: 1/56-65

Get Cracking^p1²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 90

11/1

Successful in points and left hurdles form behind sent chasing when fifth at Hereford. Not in same form at Huntingdon since but that was on heavy ground. Headgear applied.

Form: 367455

Daring Plan⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 90

25/1

Yet to make an impact in 3 starts over fences but no doubt he's on a good mark on the pick of his hurdles form.

Form: 723-9P4

Lock Out^b⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 90

12/1

Firmly back on track when making a winning return in handicap chase at Chepstow in October. Respectable in-the-frame efforts next 2 starts but not at best back both starts since. Better ground here will at least help.

Form: 5-1439P

Puddlesinthepark^p⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 84

17/2

Now 15 runs since his last win in 2023 but he recorded a solid fourth of 10 in handicap chase at Hereford (25.2f, good to soft) 11 weeks days ago. Cheekpieces back on and not taken lightly.

Form: 686604

Nordic Storm^p,t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 82

20/1

Little form over hurdles and not an obvious chasing type.

Form: 476-749

Release The Kraken^v⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: James Best| T: M Keighley| OR: 78

25/1

Potentially on a handy mark but is a long-standing maiden over hurdles and was let down by jumping on his sole start over fences over 2 years ago.

Form: 4-24647

Totowolfe²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: N J Hawke| OR: 76

12/1

Irish point winner who has shown little since shaping with some encouragement on his hurdling bow, though at least fared a little better on his second chase start when seventh at Taunton.

Form: 88-79P7

No Drama⁶⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 72

14/1

No surprise that he looked in need of the run when safely held on chase/yard debut following more than 3 years at Fontwell in October but failed to progress from that there next time. 2 lb out of handicap.

Form: 0P2P/65

Forecasts

Simple Getaway (10/11), Scotch On Da Rocks (15/2), Puddlesinthepark (17/2), Get Cracking (11/1), Lock Out (12/1), Totowolfe (12/1), No Drama (14/1), Nordic Storm (20/1), Daring Plan (25/1), Release The Kraken (25/1)

SIMPLE GETAWAY stepped forward from his chasing debut when runner-up at Ludlow last week, pulling clear of the rest, and has obvious claims off the same mark. Scotch On da Rocks has the profile to make a better chaser so may emerge as the main threat ahead of Lock Out.