March 10 / 14.15 Leicester

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14.15

Good

Weatherbys Retire A Military Animal #DATR Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Prize money: £7393.4
1m 7f 201y
Class 3
2 runners

RTV

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Weatherbys Retire A Military Animal #DATR Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 2 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

OUR TIP

Stormin Crossgales

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tom George

Abandoned

Form: 6231-1 D

Last run: 113 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict

Free-going front-runner who has won a maiden hurdle and 2m novice handicap (on chase debut; good) the last twice, both at Wincanton; regarded as one who'll cope with slower ground in time but has something to prove around an undulating track following 30l+ defeats in two Exeter bumpers.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
3rd 2	27th Nov 2023 Good To Soft 1m 7f 212y Class 3	14:50 Ludlow Stormin Crossgales 11st 4lb J: Jonathan Burke T: Tom George	Made all when favourite on handicap/chase debut at Wincanton (1m7f, good) last November but has a mixed record since and was a well-held third back over hurdles at Wincanton last month; may have needed that after a break but he needs to settle better this time and others are more persuasive.	13/2
3rd 1	19th Oct 2023 Good To Firm 1m 7f 50y Class 4	15:45 Wincanton Stormin Crossgales 12st 2lb J: Jonathan Burke T: Tom George	pulled hard, in touch with leaders, not fluent 1st, led after 3 out, headed just after 2 out, weakened and lost second approaching last	12/1
2	27th Jun 2023 Good 2m 4f 216y Class 3	18:20 Newton Abbot Stormin Crossgales 11st 10lb J: Harry Cobden T: Tom George	Front-runner; both wins at Wincanton; finished last on latest two starts but ran well in both, beaten only 2l at Stratford last time; tackles a new trip and chance depends in part on how he takes to this longer trip; can jump right; usual hood left off.	5/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

3rd

27th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 212y

Class 3

11st 4lb

Made all when favourite on handicap/chase debut at Wincanton (1m7f, good) last November but has a mixed record since and was a well-held third back over hurdles at Wincanton last month; may have needed that after a break but he needs to settle better this time and others are more persuasive.

13/2

3rd

19th Oct 2023

Good To Firm

1m 7f 50y

Class 4

12st 2lb

pulled hard, in touch with leaders, not fluent 1st, led after 3 out, headed just after 2 out, weakened and lost second approaching last

12/1

27th Jun 2023

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

11st 10lb

Front-runner; both wins at Wincanton; finished last on latest two starts but ran well in both, beaten only 2l at Stratford last time; tackles a new trip and chance depends in part on how he takes to this longer trip; can jump right; usual hood left off.

5/1

Great Heart’Jac

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Abandoned

Form: 775121 CD

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict

Content to take a lead in recording wins in two small-field C&D chases here this term; well treated under the penalty judged on the RPR of 122 he ran to on the latest of those successes, and handled cut when landing an Irish point two winters back; marginally preferred.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
5th 4	14th May 2023 Good 1m 7f 169y Class 4	14:35 Ludlow Great Heart’Jac 11st 1lb J: Paddy Brennan T: Fergal O’Brien	Fair hurdler/chaser who was 2-5 over fences last season; not at best at Ayr last month but will be suited by today's trip/ground and has pretty good chance at the weights on this hurdling return; cheekpieces added.	11/4
4th 4	21st Apr 2023 Good To Soft 2m 0f 110y Class 3	16:10 Ayr Great Heart’Jac 11st 2lb J: Paddy Brennan T: Fergal O’Brien	Two small-field wins at Leicester (2m, good to firm/good) from his first three chase starts and again ran well when second of four at Market Rasen (2m1f, good to soft) 12 days ago; needs another step forward here but that's possible, especially if good ground prevails; tongue-tie goes on.	6/1
3	10th Apr 2023 Good 2m 3f 189y Class 4	13:05 Huntingdon Great Heart’Jac 11st 10lb J: Jack Hogan T: Fergal O’Brien	Going great guns in 2m handicap chases, winning two of first three starts (on good to firm/good); failed to find much in one 2m4f handicap but, as an Irish point winner, he should stay this far over fences; ran well when runner-up at Market Rasen yesterday.	100/30

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

5th

14th May 2023

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

11st 1lb

Fair hurdler/chaser who was 2-5 over fences last season; not at best at Ayr last month but will be suited by today's trip/ground and has pretty good chance at the weights on this hurdling return; cheekpieces added.

11/4

4th

21st Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

11st 2lb

Two small-field wins at Leicester (2m, good to firm/good) from his first three chase starts and again ran well when second of four at Market Rasen (2m1f, good to soft) 12 days ago; needs another step forward here but that's possible, especially if good ground prevails; tongue-tie goes on.

6/1

10th Apr 2023

Good

2m 3f 189y

Class 4

11st 10lb

Going great guns in 2m handicap chases, winning two of first three starts (on good to firm/good); failed to find much in one 2m4f handicap but, as an Irish point winner, he should stay this far over fences; ran well when runner-up at Market Rasen yesterday.

100/30

Verdict

Both runners are yet to record an RPR greater than 113 on officially slower than good, but GREAT HEART’JAC can boast an Irish pointing success on yielding to soft, which augurs well should rain and snow have got into the ground. Still on a good mark judged next to the RPR of his latest C&D chase win, he gets the nod over Stormin Crossgales, respected on his hat-trick bid but yet to prove as convincing away from the much flatter Wincanton in his admittedly briefer Rules career. [Jeremy Grayson]