4TH RACE

THE GEOFF SMITH POOR COUNTRY JOINER HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 3)

for four yrs old and upwards x Total race value £14000

Owners Prize Money. Winner £5258; Second £2630; Third £1314; Fourth £658; Fifth £280; Sixth £280; Seventh £280; Eighth £280. (Penalty Value £6861.96) Weights raised 1lb and paragraph 34 of the Weights and Handicapping Code complied with where applicable.

FORM ANALYSIS - A CLOSER LOOK

| FACTS | FANCIES | FORM | STATS |

Leading course trainer (16-21): D Skelton (46 wins from 165 runners, 28%) runs MARRACUDJA Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): D Skelton (11 wins from 68 runners, 16%) runs MARRACUDJA Longest Traveller: CRACKING DESTINY trained by E Whillans, Hawick, 196 miles.

RACE DESCRIPTION This is a two miles and three and a half furlongs handicap steeple chase for four-yearolds and upwards which have been rated from 0 to 140. In a handicap the weight that each of the runners carries is determined by their official handicap rating which is based on their level of form shown so far. The aim is to ensure competitive racing by asking the higher rated horses to carry more weight than lower rated rival. As a guide, horses rated 0 tend to be at the lower end of the scale whilst the very best performers would be rated as high as 140.

colours no horse form age st-lb

1 RETURN TICKET (IRE) (14) 631P-13 C D

8 11-12

B g Getaway (GER) - Capelvenere (IRE) Owner: Mr John Wade Breeder: Michael Ward Jockey: Brian Hughes Trainer: Rebecca Menzies, Sedgefield Sponsor: STONEGRAVE AGGREGATES LTD, Bluegrass Horse Feeds

TIMEFORM VIEW Built up a good record for this yard, landing another small-field contest over shorter here in October. Not disgraced when third at Musselburgh since but more needed now in what looks a stronger race. Star RatingHHHII BHA 138 2 SCHIEHALLION MUNRO (GB) (211) 1/62226- C D 8 11-12

Ch g Schiaparelli (GER) - Mrs Fawlty Jockey: Conor O’Farrell Owner: Tennant, Lynch,Sharpe and Boston Trainer: Micky Hammond, Middleham Breeder: Miss K. Hannigan Sponsor: Micky Hammond Racing

TIMEFORMVIEWPromising 3-time winner as a novice chaser during 2019/20 who filled runners-up spot on 3 of last 4 starts last term. Not himself at Ayr final start and remains on a workable mark on return. Star RatingHHHII BHA 138 3 CRACKING DESTINY (IRE) (15) 5-22142 D

8 11-9

B g Dubai Destination (USA) - Cracking Gale (IRE) Jockey: Callum Bewley Owner: A G Williams Trainer: Ewan Whillans, Hawick Breeder: B. D. Darrer

TIMEFORM VIEW Eased in weights and duly capitalised when scoring at Stratford (19.5f, good) in August. Consistency hard to knock subsequently, second in a C&D listed event 2 weeks ago. Can go well again. Star RatingHHHHI BHA 135 4 MARRACUDJA (FR) (14) 312-516 C

B g Martaline - Memorial (FR) Owner: Foxtrot Racing Marracudja Breeder: E.A.R.L. De Cordelles et al

10 11-8

Jockey: Lorcan Williams (3) Trainer: Dan Skelton, Alcester Sponsor: Foxtrot Racing Syndicates

TIMEFORM VIEW Little fuss in landing 3-runner Fontwell handicap chase (17.7f) on return last month and not seen to best effect having lost lot of ground at Musselburgh thereafter. Still, others appeal more here. Star RatingHHHII BHA 134 5 TOPOFTHECOTSWOLDS (IRE) (119) 1F-256P D 7 11-4

B g Arcadio (GER) - Bambootcha (IRE) Owner: Mr M. A. Reay Breeder: Kieran Ryan & Tim Nolan Jockey: Jordan Nailor (3) Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies, Cheltenham Sponsor: Agetur (UK) Ltd

TIMEFORM VIEW Ran well a couple of times over fences early this season but out of sorts thereafter, pulled up in Summer Plate at Market Rasen (21.4f) in July. Break may have perked him up. Star RatingHHHII BHA 130 6 PALMERS HILL (IRE) (241) 3/1/2/400-

8 11-4

B g Gold Well - Tosca Shine (IRE) Owner: Mr John P. McManus Breeder: Thomas Rowe Jockey: Tom Scudamore Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill, Cheltenham Sponsor: Wasdell Group

TIMEFORM VIEW Low-mileage 8-y-o who never figured on chase debut at Taunton (23f) last December. Caught the eye back over hurdles in Coral Cup final start and interesting if money comes for him on return. Star RatingHHHII BHA 130 7 GAME OF WAR (IRE) (28) 02F-000 D

9 10-12

B g Shantou (USA) - Carrig Eden Lass (IRE) Jockey: Mr Jack Andrews (5) Owner: Mr M. Robinson Trainer: Olly Williams, Market Rasen Breeder: Mrs Evelyn Sheridan Sponsor: Olly Williams Racing

TIMEFORM VIEW Arrives in tremendous nick, value for extra when completing the hat-trick over 17f at Kelso (17f) last month. Return to further will hold no fears and he looks a player again from revised mark. Star RatingHHHHH BHA 123

DECLARED RUNNERS 8 2020: JOHNBB (IRE) 6 11 3 Stan Sheppard 7-1 (Tom Lacey) 9 ran

Tongue Strap worn by No. 1, 4. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No. 8. Stewards Note: SCHIEHALLION MUNRO: Following its run on 16/4/2021 it was reported that the trainer could not explain the poor run. MARRACUDJA: Following its run on 30/10/2021 it was reported that the horse planted itself at the start. TOPOFTHECOTSWOLDS: Following its run on 17/7/2021 it was reported that the horse had lost a shoe. Probable S.P’s: 7-2 Cracking Destiny (IRE), 4-1 Northern Bound (IRE), 11-2 Schiehallion Munro (GB), Palmers Hill (IRE), 13-2 Return Ticket (IRE), 9-1 Marracudja (FR), 14-1 Topofthecotswolds (IRE), 33-1 Game of War (IRE)

PLAY SMARTER

NORTHERN BOUND was value for extra over the winning margin when completing a chase hat-trick at Kelso 2 weeks ago and a subsequent weight rise may not prevent another bold bid on that evidence. Cracking Destiny similarly arrives in good form and can feature, along with Schiehallion Munro. Palmers Hill needs monitoring in the market on return. TIMEFORM PREDICTION: 1.NORTHERN BOUND (IRE) 2.CRACKING DESTINY (IRE) 3.SCHIEHALLION MUNRO

THE RESULT

1st.............................................................. 2nd ........................................................... Distance................................................... 3rd ........................................................... 4th ............................................................ Time .........................................................

THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF GEOFF SMITH will present £50 to the winning owner, trainer & jockey in this race.

The Friends and Family of Geoff Smith

G E O F F S M I T H

Geoff Smith was affectionately known as the Poor Country Joiner because of his love of feigning poverty to his friends and family. This race is in celebration of Geoff’s life; he sadly passed away earlier this year. Geoff’s friends and family are here today to enjoy a day’s racing in his memory. He had a life long passion for racing and spent his racing days shouting the winners home from the stand and then celebrating appropriately afterwards at the bar!