Handicapper views: De Name Escapes Me proves trickiest to assess

The BHA handicapping team pinpointed De Name Escapes Me as the trickiest horse to assess as weights for the ten festival handicaps were revealed on Wednesday..

De Name Escapes Me, trained by Noel Meade, has been raised 7lb from his Irish mark to a rating of 150 in Britain over hurdles and 139 over fences.

The JP McManus-owned nine-year-old, who was pulled up on his previous festival run in the County Hurdle two years ago, is entered in the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase, Coral Cup, Kim Muir and Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

He is a shortest price for the Kim Muir, for which he is 16-1 with William Hill and Betfair Sportsbook and been allotted 11st 6lb.

The BHA’s handicapping team provided predictions on the likely required rating for the bottom weight in each festival handicap

Ultima 137
Close Brothers 137
Coral Cup 135/136
Fred Winter 130
Brown Advisory 137
Kim Muir low 130s
Pertemps 135
Grand Annual 137/138
County Hurdle 133
Martin Pipe 134

Senior handicapper Martin Greenwood said: “The mark of De Name Escapes Me differs significantly from his Irish official rating. In England we focus on both codes when assessing a mark, whereas the Irish don’t, so he is up to 139 from 132 for his chase mark, based partly on his hurdle form, while his hurdle mark has also been raised 7lb.

“It was a relatively straightforward process to assess the Irish challengers on the whole and the results will tell us more next month as to how we have fared.”

The Paul Nicholls-trained Give Me A Copper is the shortest priced favourite for a handicap at next month’s festival – a best price 13-2 for the Ultima with Betfair Sportsbook.

Greenwood felt the lightly raced nine-year-old, who has been allotted a weight of 10st 9lb, caught the eye on his return.

Greenwood said: “Give Me A Copper shaped really well at Sandown. He’s a fragile horse and I know Paul thinks a lot of him. His odds suggest he’s well in but he’s a short price for such a competitive handicap.”

What they say

The views of four trainers at the handicap weights media event on their handicap hopes . . .

Nigel Twiston-Davies
We've got some good chances. Ballyandy has dropped down the weights but was clobbered for winning at Uttoxeter. He will go for the Coral Cup. Go Conquer is in the Ultima – he’s a lovely horse and continues to improve, while Mr Antolini, who is in the Coral Cup and Martin Pipe, is a consistent horse. Count Meribel would have a good chance if he runs in the Plate.

Charlie Longsdon
Castafiore is the obvious one for us. She is in the JLT and Close Brothers and will have an each-way chance wherever she goes. She’s hard as nails, ran really well at Kempton and I was amazed she didn’t go up in the handicap. Willie Boy is potentially well handicapped for the Ultima with a clear round, but he has fallen on both starts here and might be better suited by a flat track. Just Your Type was unlucky in the Eider and could go for the Kim Muir or National Hunt Chase, as could Treackle Tart, who is a fantastic jumper and strong stayer.

Ben Pauling
Le Breuil never travelled in the Coral Cup last year but has ran some great races over fences at Cheltenham this season. Novices have a good record in the Ultima and Daryl Jacob is keen to ride him, so he may well go for that rather than the Kim Muir or National Hunt Chase. Delire D’Estruval is in the Close Brothers but it’s touch and go whether he’ll get in. He lost his way in the winter but ran much better over a trip too short at Fakenham last time and would be competitive.

Jonjo O’Neill
I was happy with Minella Rocco at Exeter last time and hopefully he’ll go for the Ultima, which will give him a few more days before the National. The Ultima looks amazingly competitive but he jumped and travelled much better the other day. He’s a classy horse if we can get him right on the day. Cloth Cap will probably go for the National Hunt Chase and wants a sound surface. He’s had a few problems since Christmas but hopefully he’ll be right in time for next month as he is improving. I was a bit disappointed with Sky Pirate at Exeter but hopefully he’ll bounce back and I’m leaning towards the Kim Muir with him.

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