2.14pm Pat Smyth 60th Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase

The Pat Smyth 60Th Birthday Celebration Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 4)

TWO MILES ABOUT FIVE FURLONGS (2m 4f 205yds)

for four yrs old and upwards Total race value £9900 Owners Prize Money. Winner £3547; Second £1774; Third £887; Fourth £444; Fifth £280; Sixth £280; Seventh £280; Eighth £280. (Penalty Value £4629.10) Weights lowered 2lb.

SEE PAGE 38 FOR CONDITIONS OF THIS RACE.

O OWNER T TRAINER B BREEDER S SPONSOR

No./Horse FORM Age st lb Jockey

1 FANZIO (FR) (14)

B g Day Flight - Tu L’As Eu (FR) O Mr Richard Hobson

5P3-P32 C 7 11 10

Br Jean Brest

T Richard Hobson, Little Rissington ROYAL BLUE, LIGHT BLUE sleeves, ROYAL BLUE stars, LIGHT BLUE cap.

TIMEFORM VIEW Fairly useful chaser who ran his best race of the season when 5 lengths second of 4 at Fontwell a fortnight ago but more will be needed against some of these unexposed opponents. Star RatingHHHII Official BHA Rating 118 JAMES BEST

2 ORNUA (IRE) (118)

Ch g Mahler - Merry Heart (IRE) O Ms G. Howell T Georgie Howell, Tenbury Wells YELLOW, MAUVE epaulets.

000-356 D 11 11 9

Br Mr Brett Merry S Drill Service (Horley) Ltd

TIMEFORM VIEW One-time smart chaser in Ireland for Henry de Bromhead but not as good nowadays, finishing a remote sixth at Worcester when last seen in June. Has had wind surgery in the 4 months since. Star RatingHIIII Official BHA Rating 117 TABITHA WORSLEY (3)

3 GODREVY POINT (FR) (206) 352213- 6 11 9

B g Coastal Path - Quetzalya (FR) O Syders & Burkes Br Mr Christophe Doudeau

T Richard Bandey, Kingsclere S Tote

RED and WHITE check, WHITE cap.

TIMEFORM VIEW Runner-up twice before getting off the mark in a 25f Hereford maiden hurdle in February. Ended his campaign with a creditable third of 6 in a 3m Haydock handicap hurdle. Appeals as the sort to make a chaser but peak fitness has to be taken on trust after 6 months off. Star RatingHHHII Official BHA Rating 117 HARRY BANNISTER

4 FAIRWAY FREDDY (IRE) (27) 0P315-U 9 11 7

B g Elusive Pimpernel (USA) - Silent Supreme (IRE) O New Gold Dream Br Pat and Oliver McCarthy T Nick Gifford, Findon S Avtrade Limited RED, ROYAL BLUE hoops, ROYAL BLUE sleeves, BLACK armlets, RED and ROYAL BLUE striped cap.

TIMEFORM VIEW Last 3 chase successes gained at Plumpton but he was well beaten when unseating on last month’s reappearance there. Can only be watched after that. Star RatingHHIII Official BHA Rating 115 JAMES DAVIES

5 AHEAD OF THE FIELD (IRE) (16) 01024-P 7 11 5

Ch g Flemensfirth (USA) - Last of The Bunch O Andy & The Frisky Fillies Br R. McCarthy T Emma Lavelle, Marlborough S Hatherden Horse Transport MAROON and GREY stripes, GREY sleeves, MAROON armlets.

TIMEFORM VIEW Hurdle winner in Ireland who struck over fences at Southwell (20.5f) last December. Fair since, taking little interest on last month’s Warwick reappearance. STEWARDS NOTE: Following its run on 29/9/2022 it was reported that the horse jumped right-handed. Star RatingHHIII Official BHA Rating 113 JOE ANDERSON (7)

6 HUELGOAT (FR) (14)

B g Voiladenuo (FR) - Cavadee (FR) O Owners Group 080 T Paul Nicholls, Ditcheat

60-2211 D 5 11 4

Br Jean-Bernard Chapalain S Owners Group

MAUVE, BLACK chevrons on sleeves, BLACK cap.

TIMEFORM VIEW French bumper winner who was unable to better modest form over hurdles but different proposition over fences, winning novice handicaps at Newton Abbot and Fontwell this autumn. Should be more to come so a 6lb rise may not prevent him completing a hat-trick. Star RatingHHHHH Official BHA Rating 112 BRYONY FROST

7 PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL (IRE) (33) 5-42U12 CD BF 5 11 4

B g Shirocco (GER) - Chilly Filly (IRE) O Mr Dan Gilbert

Br Dan Gilbert T Brian Ellison, Malton S Brian Ellison Racing Limited BLACK and LIGHT BLUE check, BLACK sleeves, LIGHT BLUE armlets, RED cap.

TIMEFORM VIEW Bumper/maiden hurdle winner who struck at the third time of asking over fences in 4-runner Stratford handicap in August. Pulled clear with an upwardly-mobile rival at Worcester last month and should be bang there again back down in trip. Star RatingHHHHI Official BHA Rating 112 HENRY BROOKE

8 MIDNIGHT JEWEL (GB) (17) 12-1211 6 11 2

B g Midnight Legend - Follow The Dream O Ms G. E. Morgan Br North Bradon Stud T Charlie Longsdon, Chipping Norton S Merribelle Stable Llc EMERALD GREEN and WHITE (quartered), ROYAL BLUE sleeves and cap.

TIMEFORM VIEW Building up a fine strike rate, making it 6 wins in his last 9 starts when seeing off 5 rivals in a Bangor handicap chase under Lilly Pinchin 17 days ago. Up a further 5lb but another bold show is still on the cards. Star RatingHHHHI Official BHA Rating 110 LILLY PINCHIN (3)

Number of Declared Runners 8..................................................................................................(Exacta)

Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn first time by No. 5. Tongue Strap worn by No. 1, 2, 5, 6. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No. 1, 2, 7. Running for the first time since Wind Surgery No. 2.

T H E R E S U L T . . .

IST ......................................................

2ND ..................................................... 3RD ......................................................

4TH ...................................................... DISTANCES..................................

TIME................................................

2021: ONE FORTY SEVEN (IRE) 9 11 9 Mr Zac Baker 9-2 (Nigel Twiston-Davies) 9 ran

PLAY SMARTER

BETTING FORECAST:

11-4 Huelgoat (FR), 3-1 Punxsutawney Phil (IRE), 7-2 Midnight Jewel (GB), 7-1 Godrevy Point (FR), 10-1 Fanzio (FR), 20-1 Ahead of The Field (IRE), 40-1 Fairway Freddy (IRE), 100-1 Ornua (IRE)

RACE SUMMARY:

Probably best to narrow this down to the improvers towards the bottom of the weights, with the Paul Nicholls-trained HUELGOAT taken to extend his unbeaten chase record to 3 at the expense of Midnight Jewel and Punxsutawney Phil. Chase-newcomer Godrevy Point would also come into the reckoning if the betting vibes are strong on his reappearance.

1-2-3:

1.HUELGOAT (FR) 2.MIDNIGHT JEWEL 3.PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL (IRE)

FREE form for all British and Irish meetings is available online every day at timeform.com/free

P A T S M Y T H

Pat Smyth has generously sponsored this race and will kindly award a memento to the winning owner and a £50 cash prize to the stable employee responsible for the best turned out horse.

Stratford Racecourse would like to wish Louisa Day a very happy 11th Birthday!

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