15:00 Wincanton: Timeform preview and free Race Pass

There are some big fields in some of the races on Wincanton’s card with the 3m1f handicap chase (15:00) looking an unusually competitive mid-week race of its type with 14 runners set to line up.

A couple with good records at the track make the most appeal here, both of them having the ‘Horses For Courses’ flag. Preference is for Philip Hobbs’ runner Golden Sovereign, a course-and-distance winner two years ago. He was on the sidelines after that win until running well, again over course-and-distance, when third to No Hubs No Hoobs here on Boxing Day, looking the winner turning for home until lack of a recent run told in the end. He’s still relatively unexposed over fences and can improve again with that run under his belt.

Joint top-weight Certainly Red (146) comes here in fine form for Lydia Richards having won his last two starts. He was left clear to run out an easy winner over course-and-distance in December and followed up over a shorter trip at Sandown last month when finding extra on the run-in to beat Gemirande by six and a half lengths. He’s up another 8 lb in the handicap now but clearly better than ever.

Front runner Putdecashonthedash (144) is another to consider at the other end of the weights despite some unappealing recent form figures. He’s best judged on a win at Plumpton in first-time blinkers this time last year but he has failed to complete in his two runs over this course-and-distance this season, falling in the same race Golden Sovereign contested here last time.

Neon Moon (143) gained two of his four wins over hurdles at this track and has only had the two runs over fences, both of them at Exeter in November. He may have found the race coming too soon last time after an encouraging chasing debut when fifth behind Masters Legacy and has had a breathing operation since his last run.

Southfield Harvest (142) needs respecting for ‘Hot Trainer’ Paul Nicholls, he too very lightly raced over fences. He won on his chasing debut at Newton Abbot very early last season but was then off until late last year, stepping up on his reappearance when a keeping-on fourth to Farinet at Chepstow in first-time cheekpieces when again having room for improvement in his jumping.

Tallow For Coal (140) has something of an in-and-out profile of late as he followed a win on his return at Lingfield in November, when impressing with a strong finish, by running no sort of race and not jumping particularly well when pulled up in the Mandarin Handicap Chase at Newbury last time.

The mare Kapga de Lily (143) shares top weight and was a winner at Ascot and Hereford on her first two starts last term before stepping up in class. She’s been given a break since returning with a respectable fourth behind Larry at Ascot in November.

Copperhead (140+) was very promising in his novice days but rather paid the penalty in handicaps, though his mark has plummeted in recent seasons. He returns to fences after unseating at Ascot on his reappearance and hasn’t made much impact in a couple of runs over hurdles since.

Joe Tizzard’s other runner Butterwick Brook (141§) isn’t one to rely on for all that he was a course-and-distance winner last season, having been pulled up in three of his four subsequent starts. He’s been placed in both his starts this season and could probably have done with further when third in first-time blinkers in a conditional jockeys race here last time.

Veteran Potters Legend (142x) is a sketchy jumper who hasn’t won for some time but this is only his third start for ‘Hot Trainer’ Charlie Longsdon and he ran a better race than for a while when beaten a length by the thriving Ladronne at Catterick last time.

Foxboro (141) is reunited with Harry Kimber, who was successful on him at Fontwell in December, after running below form when making mistakes in the Mandarin at Newbury last time. That was his first try at around three miles so he’s not yet proven over this far.

Champagne Court (143) has run below form in his last two starts (pulled up in the Mandarin) but was successful twice earlier in the season, over fences at Perth and over hurdles at Newbury. Also pulled up in the same race last time was Moroder (140) who looked very rusty on his return to action, having run-up a four-timer last season with the last three of those wins coming at Exeter.

Two of Nearly Perfect’s (?) three wins have come over course and distance, but he didn’t show much after almost two years off the track when pulled up in the Sussex National at Plumpton last month.

Timeform Analyst’s Verdict:

A host in with chances but Golden Sovereign shaped well returning from a 22-month absence when third here on Boxing Day and with that outing sure to have blown away any cobwebs, Philip Hobbs' charge is fancied to double his tally over fences and notch a second course-and-distance success number. Certainly Red is sure to be popular in his hat-trick bid but he may have to settle for silver, with Putdecashonthedash and Neon Moon another couple worth considering.

Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings:

146 Certainly Red

145p Gold Sovereign

144 Putdecashonthedash

143 Champagne Court

143 Kapga de Lily

143 Neon Moon

142x Potters Legend

142 Southfield Harvest

141 Foxboro

141§ Butterwick Brook

140+ Copperhead

140 Moroder

140 Tallow For Coal

? Nearly Perfect

Race Passes are the ultimate form guide, providing Timeform analysis, Flags and ratings for every runner in every race in Britain and Ireland. Subscribers have access to additional features that add extra levels of insight, including complete performance histories, an extensive form archive and unlimited use of horse, jockey and trainer searches.

Just log in and click here to view the full card and Timeform analysis for the 15:00 at Wincanton on Thursday. You can subscribe to Race Passes to access every race here.