Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase Preview: Mister bombastic

The piggy bank has been raided and some old annuals sold off once more to sponsor the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase, and a small-but-select field of seven remains after declarations. The Early Position Map below shows the way we expect the field to line up:

A lot will depend on whether Solstice Star harries confirmed front-runner Sizing Tennessee – if he does, then it may put too much pressure on the last-named who is prone to mistakes, although he was better in that department last time. If Sizing Tennessee gets an uncontested lead, however, he could prove hard to pass with stamina a forte (has an entry in the four-miler at the Cheltenham Festival).

Mister Whitaker should be ideally placed to strike. He won a novice handicap at Carlisle (by two lengths from Solstice Star) in November and was a good second to Hell's Kitchen in a similar event at Kempton last time. Judging his overall run style and rivals he faces today, Mister Whitaker is likely to be ridden more prominently here than at Kempton, and remains open to improvement as a chaser.

Hell's Kitchen (9-2) digs deep to win the https://t.co/Su9akbXOZ1 Chase and completes a quick-fire double for trainer Harry Fry, pic.twitter.com/46EDbZCaH5

— Kempton Park (@kemptonparkrace) December 26, 2017

Like Mister Whitaker, Ballyandy has a ‘p’ attached to his rating, despite finishing fourth of five to Yanworth in the Dipper Novices' Chase at the track earlier this month. He shaped as if needing the run that day and is of obvious interest here, despite his best form coming over two miles (Betfair Hurdle win, February 2017).

Theatre Territory ran well here on her penultimate start, but appeared to find the race coming too soon when disappointing at Wincanton just 11 days later. She has been given a longer break and is worth another chance. She’s likely to race in midfield, along with the Swinton Hurdle winner War Sound who has shown fairly useful form in four starts over fences without matching his peak hurdling exploits.

Full Irish is likely to be ridden most patiently, those tactics adopted on his last two starts and connections rewarded with a clear career-best effort when Full Irish won at Lingfield in November. He shaped better than the distance beaten suggests when fourth at Haydock last time, going well when blundering two out, and will be a major player here if there is a battle for the lead.

In truth, though, that looks unlikely, with Mister Whitaker expected to be in pole position to strike in what could be a muddling race.

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