Rory Delargy

WINCANTON SA

12.55 JOCKEY CLUB VENUES HANDICAP CHASE (2½M)

Bertie’s Desire looks to have everything in his favour in this small-field affair, and this progressive and bold-jumping six-year-old should take advantage of the weight he receives from all his rivals. Hailing from a yard in fine form (five of last six runners from the Sherwood stable have been first or second), he showed his aptitude for this venue with a fine second to Hollow Penny last month. He jumped well in the main there, and didn’t seem fazed by being tackled for the lead, so the fact that several of his rivals tend to front run shouldn’t be an issue. Bincombe tops the weights, but he’s been harshly dealt with for winning an uncompetitive heat at Haydock in the spring, and looks opposable, for all he’ll improve for a pipe-opener over hurdles. Mackey’s Forge threw away countless opportunities for Dessie Hughes, and hasn’t turned over a new leaf for Hugo Froud, while Ballyalia Man is on a handy mark on his 2012/13 form, but lacks gears at this trip, and probably needs the mud to get his head in front. Saint Raph hasn’t raced since landing a handicap on his chase bow for Yannick Fouin, and while he’s unexposed, his claims are clouded by a long absence.

1.30 BATHWICK TYRES RISING STARS NOVICES’ CHASE (2½M)

Paul Nicholls has been very bullish about the prospects of Southfield Theatre as a chaser, and he won easily at the first attempt at Chepstow, but I wasn’t as enamoured by that performance as some, and he could start at cramped odds in this better contest. The experienced Hollow Penny will be no pushover, and could have his claims enhanced by Bertie’s Desire in the previous race, but preference is for Horizontal Speed, who shaped very well on his chase bow at Aintree, and looks the type to better his useful hurdles form in this discipline. He’s adaptable in terms of underfoot conditions, and was most progressive in the spring. A tall, athletic sort, he looks one to look forward to over the winter, and should be a backable price despite the small field.

2.40 BADGER ALES TROPHY HANDICAP CHASE (3M1½F)

A very competitive renewal of the Badger Ales, albeit one seemingly lacking a potential star. Last year’s winner Standing Ovation has every chance of landing back-to-back victories after a solid second to Roalco De Farges at Cheltenham, but I reckon Golden Chieftain, who was back in sixth that day, has a better chance of revenge than the bare result suggests. Colin Tizzard’s yard was notably quiet at the time, and the nine-year-old moved very sweetly for a long way, shaping as if all his old ability remained. With his yard showing definite signs of a revival, he can be expected to fare much better, and he is a sporting nap at the early prices, especially when you consider how he spreadeagled his rivals in the JLT Speciality Chase from just 2lb lower in March 2013. Of the others, plenty are either too high in the handicap or have a tendency to flatter, but one who could be a danger is Opening Batsman, who showed little last season, but has dropped sharply in the weights, and could easily bounce back after an extended break.

3.15 STANJAMES.COM ELITE HURDLE (2m)

Irving was reportedly a sick horse when flopping in the Supreme, so merits serious consideration on this first run outside novice company, and is shortlisted along with Forgotten Voice, who isn’t really a stayer on the flat, and is better than he was able to show in graded company on the level this summer. He also has a bit to do with Hint Of Mint on their running behind The New One at Kempton recently, but Nicky Henderson’s hurdler is best being towed along behind a strong gallop, and will find a more suitable scenario here. He was an exciting novice over timber in 2012/13, and went on to land a Group 3 at Glorious Goodwood last summer. We’ve still to see the very best of him at the winter game, but everything is in place for a career-best effort in a race which should play to his considerable strengths.

SANDOWN

SATURDAY:

2.30 SHARE CENTRE: SIMPLY EASIER HANDICAP CHASE

Plenty of the runners in this handicap chase have seen better days, and Barrakilla can make his first chase start out of novice company a winning one. Angela Rucker’s point winner has run into some smart sorts in his short career, and got it right at the third time of asking over fences when beating subsequent dual winner Persian Snow at Warwick last December. Given the runner-up that day now has a rating of 141, it’s fair to suggest he could be chucked in off a mark of 134. A longish absence is a minor concern, but Evan Williams has an excellent strike-rate with his chasers in recent months (8-26 since September), and fitness shouldn’t really be a concern.

3.40 SHARE CENTRE SUPPORTS FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE HOSPICE HANDICAP CHASE (3M½F)

I’m not prepared to give Loch Ba too many chances after a disappointing campaign last term, but he’s probably best caught fresh, and would have a massive chance here if repeating the form he showed when second to Midnight Appeal on his return at Bangor a year ago.

He also won on his reappearance in 2012 and 2011, and has been given a chance by the assessor after ending the season in the doldrums.

It’s possible that temperament is winning the battle with him, but he had a couple of hard races (including when fancied for the Hennessy) and is given the benefit of the doubt on this occasion.