Listed Premier Chase Guide 2022

Ann Hamilton’s 11 year old Nuts Well is best known for scoring in the 2020 Old Roan Chase at Aintree when getting the better of Clondaw Castle and Itchy Feet.

His form had been relatively mediocre before leading up to a string of handicaps wins off decent enough marks in the 2019-2020 season, he has only won once since taking the Old Roan and found life difficult off a revised mark of 159. The handicapper seemingly getting the better of him.

Managing to score over 2 miles despite a mark of 157 at the start of this season he failed to retain his throne at Aintree this season but ran creditably behind Allmankind off a mark of 159.

Last seen pulling up behind Windsor Avenue at Doncaster, handicaps are out of his reach but he also carries a 6lbs penalty here for his graded success. He looks unlikely to be able to concede that penalty here.

This 12 year old is a prolific scorer at Kelso winning no less than 7 times at the course.
Two miles quickly became too sharp for him and he quickly found himself scoring over long trips over hurdles before tackling fences.

With a massive engine, he lacked some tactical pace but will always keep galloping away, he’s proven himself time and time again over long distances especially at Kelso.

He’s been in fine form this season too despite his age and the Lucinda Russell charge came 2nd to a young improver on seasonal debut before striking twice here at Kelso in handicap company.

Including taking the Scottish Borders National.
Maybe not of listed quality anymore with younger legs in the field, he does always put his best foot forward around Kelso.

After spending the majority of his career with Alan King, Dingo Dollar scored twice over hurdles before being moved to fences.

It took a couple of attempts for him to warm up to the bigger obstacles but he quickly scored a brace in his novice season.

A solid run in the 2018 Ladbrokes Trophy suggested he had a good career ahead of him as a staying chaser but he failed to uphold that form despite running well in the Ladbroke the following year.

Only winning once since his novice days when scoring on his first run since moving to the Sandy Thompson yard, before being narrowly touched off in the Scottish Grand National.

This season has seen him only run twice and finish 4th and 3rd in decent handicap contests. But on paper he has a bit to find with some of these to get competitive.

Now 10 years old, point to point winner Windsor Avenue also managed to score in two bumpers in his first starts under rules before going on to score twice over hurdles.

His future seemingly always lay over fences and he transitioned to the bugger obstacles with ease winning his first two starts without breaking a sweat. Just being unable to live with the engine on Sam Spinner to land Grade 2 honours.

Again, his form has suffered since leaving novice company and it wasn’t until recently that he’s managed to get his head in front, scoring at 40/1 in a listed handicap on his last start over 3 miles.

Stepping up in trip this season has helped and he’s scored at listed level earning him a penalty. If holding his form he’s in with a shout.

Another runner for Sandy Thompson is 9 year old Hill Sixteen.

A novice hurdler with plenty of scope, he always looked like he would improve for being put in front of a fence and only managed to win once over hurdles. It surprisingly also took him a few attempts too warm to fences, being well beaten in his first three attempts as a chaser.

His form has been very hit and miss since. A spell with Nigel Twiston-Davies saw him score once over hurdles and put in some very poor runs over fences.

He’s since moved to Sandy Thompson and was incredibly unlucky to go down by a nose in the Beecher chase to Snow Leopardess.

Another who was well held behind Window Avenue at Doncaster, he has absolutely bundles to find on official figures but his Beecher effort would give him a chance.

Trained by Olly Murphy, Itchy Feet made a splash in novice hurdles winning 3 times over the smaller obstacles before two solid outings in the spring festivals. Coming 3rd in the Supreme and 4th in the Top Novices’.

Itchy Feet took too fences immediately and scored in his first two runs over fences but failed to complete at Cheltenham despite being well fancied.

The 8 year old has since struggled to acquit himself in open company as a chaser and has failed to win since taking the Scilly Isles at Sandown.

He has run creditably multiple times in deep races and might just appreciate this drop in class from the graded races he has been contesting but does he have the stamina for 3 miles?

Kim Bailey’s 8 year old Espoir De Romay is very lightly raced for his age and has only been seen 10 times under rules.

Winning twice in his five outings over hurdles he beat the well touted West Cork in a novice hurdle and scored in handicap company before a mid pack finish in the Martin Pipe in 2020.

Taken to chasing, he won at the first time of asking over the larger obstacles and came a decent second to Royal Pagaille after that when giving weight away.

He scored easily at Leicester towards the end of last season before looking the winner of the Mildmay at Aintree before coming down 2 out after over-jumping.

Only seen once this season he ran well in a listed chase behind Fiddlerontheroof at the start of the season but hasn’t been seen since.

Talented but maybe lacking some race fitness.