BirthdayCelebrations Handicap Chase

I greatly look forward to my next 60 years and hope they are as fun packed as the first 60 have been

SIXTH RACE 3.07

TWO MILES ABOUT FOUR FURLONGS (2M 4F) FOR FIVE YRS OLD AND UPWARDS

THE PAUL WAINWRIGHT SUPERAMS 60TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 4)

Total prize fund £9800 œ Owners Prize Money. 1st £3958, 2nd £1979, 3rd £990, 4th £495, 5th £247. (Penalty Value £5175.38) Weights raised 2lbs and paragraph 34 of the Weights and Handicapping Code complied with where applicable.

Race Stats

LEADING COURSE TRAINER (17-22): D Skelton (80 wins from 322 runners, 25%) runs HOMETOWN HERO

TRAINER-IN-FORM (LAST 14 DAYS): D Skelton (9 wins from 21 runners, 43%) runs HOMETOWN HERO

LONGEST TRAVELLER: ANIMAL trained by Miss Suzy Smith, Littlehampton, 184 miles.

Race Summary

DISCKO DES PLAGES has a history of tame finishes to his name but he looked the likely winner when unseating 3 out over C&D in November and, from an unchanged mark, he could just be worth chancing to prove the point here. Chanceux was inconsistent over timber but his C&D chase debut second on New Year’s Eve was a solid effort and he’s feared, along with Hereford-scorer Not Sure and chase-debutant Gold Emery.

1-2-3: 1.DISCKO DES PLAGES (FR) 2.CHANCEUX (IRE) 3.NOT SURE (IRE) colours no horse age st lb

1 FRANIGANE (FR) (30) 24/212/-4

8 12-0

Ch g Coastal Path - Nobless d’Aron (FR) Henry Brooke

Edgedale & Robinson Harry Whittington, Sparsholt

Br EARL Trinquet, M. Trinquet & O. Trinquet Webbswood S

TIMEFORM VIEW Looked a useful hurdling prospect when scoring at Wetherby in February 2021. Set a stiff examination when well beaten on chase debut/returning from 22 months off at Kelso (17f) in December and this ought to reveal more. TFRëëëêê BHA118

2 HOMETOWN HERO (IRE) (33) 210-33P BF

8 11-11

B g Darsi (FR) - Kilcoltrim Society (IRE) Bridget Andrews Estate Research Limited Dan Skelton, Alcester

Br Mr S. Doyle Ladbrokes, The Air Ambulance Service (Warwickshire & Northamptonshire) S

TIMEFORM VIEWIrish point winner who opened account over hurdles at Market Rasen (20.6f) last February. Solid start over fences this winter, matching previous best when third over 3m at Wetherby in December Pulled up at first-named venue on Boxing Day but too soon to write him off. Cheekpieces fitted. TFRëëëêê BHA115

3 CHANCEUX (IRE) (28) 1P3P-62

7 11-10

Alex Edwards (3) RSKM Bloodstock Alastair Ralph, Bridgnorth

B g Mahler - Granny Mc Cann (IRE)

Br Mr Anthony McCann Planned Office Interiors Ltd S

TIMEFORM VIEWDual novice hurdle winner (at around 2m) last winter who was pulled up on 2 of his 3 starts in handicaps after, quickish ground possibly against him at Fontwell in March. Surpassed that form when an excellent second on last month’s C&D chase debut Big player TFRëëëëê BHA114

4 POINT HIM OUT (USA) (79) 6412-62

6 11-9

B g Point of Entry (USA) - Rahy’s Colors (USA) Joe Anderson (7)

H.Pridham & D.Donoghue Emma Lavelle, Marlborough

Br Empire Equines LLC Hatherden Horse Transport S

TIMEFORMVIEWFairly useful at up to 9f on the Flat in the US and fair form when off the mark over hurdles for present yard at Stratford (16.3f) back in March. Minor encouragement in pair of chase tries to date but he doesn’t boast the profile of one likely to excel in this discipline. TFRëëëêê BHA113

5 DIOMEDE DES MOTTES (FR) (33) 2PP5/-0F

10 11-9

Ch g Kapgarde (FR) - Nellyssa Bleu (FR) Luke Scott (7)

Belbroughton Racing Club

Dr Richard Newland, Droitwich

Br E.A.R.L Ecurie Des Mottes Coulthursts Ltd S

TIMEFORM VIEWLightly raced and not the easiest to win with over hurdles. Entitled to have needed first start for 19 months over 26f here in November and in midfield when taking an early fall at Market Rasen (21.4f) on Boxing Day. This should reveal more. TFRëëëêê BHA113

6 GOLD EMERY (FR) (37) 0P11-3 BF 7 11-7

Gr g Doctor Dino (FR) - Queissa (FR)

Dalwhinnie Bloodstock Limited

Theo Gillard (3)

Donald McCain, Cholmondeley

Br Ecurie Nicolas Taudon & M. Joel Poitou Proactive Personnel Limited S

TIMEFORM VIEWPoint winner who made perfect start under Rules when off the mark in 17f Carlisle maiden hurdle last February. Ran well under a penalty when third on return at Ayr (20.5f) 5 weeks ago and he’s a very intriguing chase debutant with that under his belt. TFRëëëëê BHA111

7 ANIMAL (IRE) (33) 413-633

B g Arcadio (GER) - Fantine (IRE)

7 11-5

Liam Harrison (3)

James Rimmer & Chris Ames Suzy Smith, Littlehampton

Br Ms Ciara Browne Tote S

TIMEFORMVIEWBumper winner who opened chase account from 4lb lower mark at Fakenham (21.2f) 13 months ago. Largely consistent since, albeit not looking any better than the bare result when third at Wincanton (20f) on Boxing Day. Each-way possibilities again. TFRëëëêê BHA109

8

NOT SURE (IRE) (24) P2-4441

7 11-3

Br g Presenting - Pink Mist (IRE) Richard Patrick

Mr Will Roseff Kerry Lee, Presteigne

Br R. Tanner Fitzdares Limited S

TIMEFORMVIEWMade frame on several occasions without success overhurdles but put itall together (in first-time blinkers) to open his account over fences at Hereford (20.8f) 24 days ago, keeping on well Remains unexposed in this sphere and not discounted from 8lb higher. TFRëëëëê BHA107

9 DROP HIM IN (IRE) (33) 63F4-30

7 11-1

Br g Elusive Pimpernel (USA) - Dart Queen (GER) William Kennedy

Zavier Austin, Mrs Roz Wyles & Partner Olly Murphy, Wilmcote

Br Irish National Stud McCoy Contractors S

TIMEFORMVIEWMaiden hurdler in Ireland who made frame on 2 of his 4 starts in points prior to a creditable third returned to timber for new stable at Lingfield (23f) last month. Discouraging effort on chase debut at Huntingdon last month, though, and will need to leave that performance behind TFRëëêêê BHA105

10 TIP TOP MOUNTAIN (IRE) (26) 4123-14 CD BF

8 11-0

B g Mountain High (IRE) - The Central Lady (IRE) Bryan Carver

Mr R. J. Brown Robert Walford, Blandford

Br Pat Casey & Liam O’Doherty Tote S

TIMEFORM VIEWC&D winner who took well to chasing last season, gaining third career success on return at Fontwell (19.5f) in November Never figured ridden closer to the pace than ideal/made errors at Plumpton (19.7f) since but overall profile suggests he can get back on track. TFRëëëêê BHA104

11 DISCKO DES PLAGES (FR) (69) 22/326-F 10 10-7

B g Balko (FR) - Lady des Plages (FR) Paul O’Brien Gordon Farr & Gerry M Ward Richard Hobson, Little Rissington

Br Mr Rene Ricous & Mme Genevieve Ricous Tote S

TIMEFORMVIEWTame finishing an issue with him but well weighted these days and he looked set to win until unseating 3 out on return over C&D in November Same mark here so well worth another chance on balance TFRëëëëë BHA97

12 LUIS VAN ZANDT (IRE) (12) 0FP/-005 D

9 10-2

B g Scorpion (IRE) - Banrion Na Boinne Tabitha Worsley (3) Moorland Racing Sarah-Jayne Davies, Leominster

Br Mr Kevin Dowd Moorland Walling & Landscape Contractors S

TIMEFORMVIEWHandicap hurdle winner for Gavin Cromwell during summer of 2020 but disappointing over fences for current yard and passed over operating from out of the weights TFRëêêêê BHA80

2022: KEEP ROLLING (IRE) 9 11 12 Tom O’Brien 3-1 (Philip Hobbs) 7 ran

DECLARED RUNNERS 12

Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn first time by No. 2. Blinkers worn by No. 8. Tongue Strap worn by No. 2, 5, 10, 11, 12. Stewards Note:

HOMETOWN HERO: Following its run on 26/12/2022 it was reported that the horse was never travelling. POINT HIM OUT: Following its run on 10/11/2022 it was reported that the horse’s right leg was lame and shoeless.

Probable S.P’s: 9-2 Not Sure (IRE), 13-2 Discko des Plages (FR), 7-1 Chanceux (IRE), 8-1 Hometown Hero (IRE), Gold Emery (FR), 9-1 Tip Top Mountain (IRE), 11-1 Point Him Out (USA), Animal (IRE), 16-1 Franigane (FR), 22-1 Diomede des Mottes (FR), 25-1 Drop Him In (IRE), 100-1 Luis Van Zandt (IRE)

In the interests of safety and the comfort of others, we would request that you do NOT carry drinks on to the steppings of the stand, or the areas adjacent to the Parade Ring or Unsaddling Enclosure