Timeform Daily: The Shottery Beginners' Chase (Class 4), Stratford, 1.50

Race of the Day Preview / Timeform / 29 October 2008 / Leave a Comment

Timeform rate all 12 runners in Thursday's 2m4f beginners' chase at Stratford.

The majority of jump racing's most powerful stables are represented in the 12-strong field for this beginners' chase over two-and-a-half miles. Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls saddles Predateur, who finished second twice in Graded company in novice chases last season, though as a maiden over fences he remains eligible for such contests in 2008/9. Those events came at Cheltenham, and both times he travelled very strongly before finding little for pressure. Although proven at the trip, Predateur has only faced good ground once in Britain, when fifth behind Tidal Bay. There is no doubting his ability, but he is not one to rely upon in a battle.

Kawagino has been hitherto disappointing over fences compared to his smart hurdles form (second off top weight in last seasons' Lanzarote Hurdle). His jumping has habitually been his downfall, though he has only failed to complete twice from ten starts in chases. Kawagino has been given plenty opportunity to prove his worth over fences and there is more than enough evidence to suggest that his chase rating is reliable. That form is still sufficient to ensure that he is competitive, however.

Another with something to prove compared to their hurdling form is Crescent Island. Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge has had just two starts over fences to date, however, and he still has plenty of time to prove himself an equally useful at this code. It wasn't until the spring that he showed his best form over the smaller obstacles, his best run coming when splitting Elusive Dream and Punchestowns at Cheltenham in April. Crescent Island ran out on his chasing debut at Perth, something that he also did at Ascot in his bumper days, but left-handed tracks shouldn't hold as much fear for his backers.

A Grade 1-level juvenile in France, Chiaro showed fairly useful form in handicap hurdles last season, finishing seventh in the Paddy Power at the Tingle Creek meeting and second to Kicks For Free at Kempton in February. Not an obvious candidate for chasing on looks, he is capable enough and there will be novice chases to be won with him, though equally there are far less competitive heats to start off in than this.

Kia Kaha is an interesting runner from Jonjo O'Neill's yard. After winning his first two hurdle starts (in a novice and novice handicap event respectively) he was off for four months before shaping as if amiss at this track in March. Seven months on and stepped up in trip, he comes here unexposed and could well spring a surprise on his more established rivals.

Alan King is double handed in the race, though Paradise Regained will have to step up markedly on what he has shown so far to feature. Masked Man showed fairly useful form in three starts since coming from Guilleme Macaire's.

Mount Sandel is equally lightly campaigned, and showed he retained all of his ability on his last start in May. Country Affair is a winning hurdler, but has a fair bit to find compared to some of his rivals.