William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap Chase – Leicester

Leicester

14:05

William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap Chase

Date 2023-12-13

Distance 2m6f151y

Class Class 5

Going Heavy

Type Chase

Surface Turf

Age Band 4yo+

Prize £3,697

Winning Time 6m 21.34s (slow by 41.34s)

Result

Pos	Horse	SP	Btn
1st	Val Dancer (IRE) Charlie Deutsch · Mel Rowley	2/1F	Won
2nd	Royal Mer (FR) Jack Tudor · David Pipe	3/1	16
3rd	Justshortofabubble (GB) Ben Jones · Grace Harris	7/2	3.75
4th	Bignorm (IRE) James Best · Rosemary Gasson	8/1	.5

Non-Runners / Other

Status	Horse	SP
P.U.	File Illico (FR) Jonjo O'Neill Jr · Jonjo O'Neill	5/1
P.U.	Moon Eagle (IRE) Lee Edwards · Tom Gretton	40/1

Runners (6)

EW Terms: 2 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
2	Royal Mer Grey J:Jack Tudor T:David Pipe	J:Jack Tudor T:David Pipe	162	t	26-451	98	113	89	21d	—	—	-4	18.7	0.75/1	3/1 25%
One of two to pull well clear of the others when scoring on British chase debut last month
4	Justshortofabubble Bay J:Ben Jones T:Grace Harris	J:Ben Jones T:Grace Harris	158	tp	32141F	94	111	82	16d	—	—	+4	27.8	0.75/1	3/1 25%
Three chase wins this season; held narrow lead before penultimate-fence fall last time
1	Val Dancer Bay J:Charlie Deutsch T:Mel Rowley	J:Charlie Deutsch T:Mel Rowley	168	p	5446-3	104	101	74	34d	—	—	-2	24.5	0.63/1	5/2 29%
Just a modest third on seasonal/chase debut; eased in grade with headgear added here
3	File Illico Bay J:Jonjo O'Neill Jr T:Jonjo O'Neill	J:Jonjo O'Neill Jr T:Jonjo O'Neill	159	p	284-76	95	110	69	13d	—	—	+2	14.9	1.50/1	6/1 14%
Regressive 8yo who ought to handle today's ground but needs to turn a corner
6	Bignorm Bay J:James Best T:Rosemary Gasson	J:James Best T:Rosemary Gasson	142	p	2-3385	78	106	75	17d	—	—	+4	12.9	2.50/1	10/1 9%
C&D winner on heavy ground in March 2021 but no joy since; 6lb wrong today
5	Moon Eagle Bay J:Lee Edwards T:Tom Gretton	J:Lee Edwards T:Tom Gretton	152	tp	4023-P	88	113	93	21d	—	—	+6	10.9	4.50/1	18/1 5%
Was struggling from early stage on last month's seasonal debut; difficult to enthuse over

Horse	bet365	Coral	Virgin Bet
Royal Mer	3/1	11/4	5/2
Justshortofabubble	3/1	3/1	3/1
Val Dancer	2/1	5/2	5/2
File Illico	6/1	11/2	11/2
Bignorm	10/1	9/1	9/1
Moon Eagle	18/1	16/1	16/1

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

Justshortofabubble

27.8

OR: 11 Form: 9.5 Odds: 7.3

3/1

2nd

Val Dancer

24.5

OR: 13.5 Form: 3 Odds: 8

5/2

3rd

Royal Mer

18.7

OR: 12 Form: 0 Odds: 6.7

3/1

File Illico

14.9

OR: 11.3 Form: 0 Odds: 3.6

6/1

Bignorm

12.9

OR: 7 Form: 3.5 Odds: 2.4

10/1

Moon Eagle

10.9

OR: 9.5 Form: 0 Odds: 1.4

18/1

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Val Dancer	104	101	74
Royal Mer	98	113	89
File Illico	95	110	69
Justshortofabubble	94	111	82
Moon Eagle	88	113	93
Bignorm	78	106	75

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
File Illico	13d ago	Quick return
Justshortofabubble	16d ago	Fit
Bignorm	17d ago	Fit
Royal Mer	21d ago	Fit
Moon Eagle	21d ago	Fit
Val Dancer	34d ago	Fit