Racecards
15:30 Wincanton
Tote Bookmakers Chase (Showcase Handicap) (Class D)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 3m 1f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Form 310-51P
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
tracked leader, mistake 10th, fell 11th
- Form 30-4F2P
- Age 13
- Weight 11-10
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey J M Maguire
led until headed 6th, led again next, unseated rider 15th
- Form 35501/P-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leaders, led briefly 6th, left in lead 15th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 20/4P3P-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey D N Russell
in touch, ridden 5 out, weakened soon after
- Form 3131-02
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
mid-division, ridden 8th, mistake 12th, close order 14th, led 3 out, clear 2 out comfortable
Bally Lira
34- Form 05135-0
- Age 12
- Weight 10-4
- Trainer P Rodford
- Jockey A Thornton
mid-division, hit 2nd, mistake 5th, slow next, ridden and soon tailed off, pulled up before 15th
- Form P-03653
- Age 12
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer C Mitchell
- Jockey S Durack
towards rear, driven 2nd, mistake 3rd, ridden 5th, lost touch 12th, stayed on from 4 out to take poor 3rd after last
- Form PP0-P31
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer D Stoddart
- Jockey T Doyle
in rear, mistake 1st, in 5th and in touch when unseated rider 15th
- Form 26025-3
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
towards rear, ridden 5th, behind and mistake 6th, lost touch 10th, plugged on for remote 4th
In depth
Verdict
The presence of Tremallt should ensure a decent gallop here and that should suit the Paul Nicholls-trained Howdydoody, who is preferred to Kick For Touch. Nicholls has a good line to Kick For Touch through his consistent performer Fasgo, who beat Henrietta Knight's gelding at Newton Abbot in November. Howdydoody earned a rating of 113 from limited opportunities over hurdles and has quickly been put over fences, losing no caste in defeat behind the useful Fork Lightning on his debut at Hereford a month ago. The winner there looked unlucky off a mark of 129 in a handicap next time so Howdydoody looks potentially well treated off a mark of just 113. The Philip Hobbs-trained Ross Minster has a long absence to overcome and is probably best watched, a comment that also applies to Mister Bigtime. Lightweight Quainton Hills would probably prefer a stiffer test of stamina and a bigger threat may be Jeremy Spider, who faced an impossible task in the Welsh National last time. However, Howdydoody looks well in on his handicap debut over fences and gets the vote.