17:35 Newton Abbot

Thursday 21 August 2025

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:2517:0017:35

Thank You To All Our Armed Forces Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:36 | Winning time: 5m 8.73s

Aslukwoodhavit^t,p²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: S Bowen| T: M Bowen| OR: 117WS

9/2

Sold out of Henry De Bromhead's yard for just £5,000 in June and low-key start for this yard at Carlisle later that month. However, that was a Class 2 handicap and subsequent efforts in lower-grade races have been more like it (has undergone a wind op since latest run). Key player.

Form: 440-832

Time To Bite^b³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Bryan Carver| T: C Honour| OR: 112| CD

7/2

Recorded fourth success over fences this year with a dominant front-running C&D success last month. Task was simplified by the fact that the other two who got round both failed to fire, but the assessor presumably took that into account when handing the 10-y-o a 6 lb rise. Solid claims.

Form: 15-1F21

Magic Seven²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 112

9/2

Three-time hurdles winner who has finished second on 2 of his 4 starts since switched to fences. Probably found 23f too far at Worcester and worth considering off the same mark (latest hurdles win was gained off this mark) back down in trip here with conditions to suit. Yard also saddles Trapista.

Form: 6-32425

Theonlywayiswessex⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 109| BF

11/2

Versatile performer who resumed winning ways in good style at Plumpton in December. Has performed respectably in handicaps at Warwick and Stratford since returning from a break in June and should make his presence felt once more.

Form: 3217-23

Trapista⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: K Brogan| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 103

20/1

Now 7 lb below last winning mark but she was below par during the winter and has broadly performed below her best in a handful of appearances since returning from a break in April.

Form: FP3-24U

Fat Sam^t²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 103| CD

9/1

Good second at Worcester (2½m, good) on penultimate start but wasn't in the same form over the same C&D since and losing run stretches back to July 2022.

Form: 523-324

Limerick Leader^v³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: James Bowen| T: Mrs A M Thorpe| OR: 98| CD

3/1

Didn't need to be at best when opening account in this sphere over C&D in June. Pulled clear of the rest with the winner when second at Stratford (19.4f, good to soft) next time and this 8-y-o has to enter calculations.

Form: 33P-212

Non-Runners

Scarlet O'Tara²⁸

Weight: 11-6| Age: 7

T: Dr R Newland & J Insole J: Non Runner

Let's Sail Away⁴⁴

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: T Lacey J: Stan Sheppard

Forecasts

Limerick Leader (3/1), Time To Bite (7/2), Aslukwoodhavit (9/2), Magic Seven (9/2), Let's Sail Away (9/2), Theonlywayiswessex (11/2), Fat Sam (9/1), Trapista (20/1), Scarlet O'Tara (20/1)

Irish import ASLUKWOODHAVIT has acquitted himself well off this mark here and at Uttoxeter the last twice and he gets the nod ahead of Let's Sail Away, who clearly has two ways of running but put in a good shift when runner-up on his chase debut and will be a serious player if building on that. Time To Bite came home in splendid isolation over this C&D last time and he also merits respect in this competitive contest, with Limerick Leader, Magic Seven and Theonlywayiswessex all possibles, too.