Glen Forsa
Glen Forsa was seriously impressive in winning the 2m 4f handicap chase. He travelled well just behind the leaders, and he moved to the front at the second last fence in the back straight. He moved easily clear off what had been a strong pace, and he set up a race-winning advantage around the home turn. He stayed on well too over the last two fences, it never looked like he was going to be caught. The form of the race has already been enhanced, with runner-up Glen Rocco and fourth-placed Dell Oro both winning this weekend.
Mick Channon's horse has only just turned seven, and he is really lightly raced. Winner of his only bumper, at Huntingdon in November 2016, he was beaten in his maiden hurdle back at Huntingdon two months later. Off the track for 21 months after that, he shaped promisingly in two novice hurdles earlier this season, before switching to fences and stepping up in trip for a novices' handicap chase at Chepstow in late November, which he duly won fairly impressively off a mark of 114. This was a big step up in grade but, racing off a mark of 125, he proved that he was up to it.
The handicapper has raised him by another 9lb to a mark of 134, which is not an insignificant hike, but he won with plenty in hand and he still has the potential to go beyond his new handicap rating. He has raced just six times in his life, and just twice over fences.
Connections sent out Mister Whitaker to finish second to Hell's Kitchen in this race last year, and that horse went on to win the Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on Festival Trials day, before going to the Cheltenham Festival and winning the Close Brothers Chase. It wouldn't be surprising if connections had a similar plan in mind for Glen Forsa. He will probably have to go up another few pounds in order to get him into the Close Brothers Chase at the Festival.
Kempton, 26th December 2018
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