14:25 Warwick

Saturday 14 January 2017

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:05

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Series Qualifier)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 30.6s

Clondaw Cian⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 138

7/1

Up 8lb for recent Cheltenham win and the form of that hasn't really been boosted since but yard are certainly in good form. Needs to pull out more and prove he can stay this far though.

Form: 14722-1

Barney Dwan³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 138

6/1

Hasn't looked a natural over fences in two starts and wisely reverts to hurdles. Won on heavy ground last season over hurdles and may improve now he's stepping up in trip.

Form: 11413-2

Cogry^p¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: William Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 134

7/1

Exploited lower mark over hurdles last time out and the switch back from fences seems to have invigorated him. Claims if he returns in the same form and has won on the forecast conditions so could well go close for a trainer in form.

Form: 33-FBUF

Lough Derg Leader⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R P McLernon| T: T Lacey| OR: 131

7/1

This winning point-to-pointer made most of the running and almost scored on hurdles debut at Kempton in October, going down by a length to the favourite. Followed that up with victories at Bangor and Doncaster and provided he enjoy this different type of track, he's obviously a leading contender.

Form: 1-211

Dan Emmett^p¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R T Dunne| T: M Scudamore| OR: 130

33/1

Poor jumper who looks to be too high in the weights to get competitive here.

Form: 17425-F

Scotchtown²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Humphries⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 130

8/1

Narrowly denied a hat-trick last time when going down by a neck but the handicapper hasn't punished him for that. Appears to be the stable second string on jockey bookings but he could run a place if this claimer gets the best out of him and he stays the significant step up in trip.

Form: 3-41122

Buddy Bolero¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Kieron Edgar⁽³⁾| T: M Pitman| OR: 129

50/1

Smart horse on his day and should enjoy this kind of test but his reappearance from nearly two years off last time out was littered with errors and he's hard to trust off the back of that.

Form: 603/PP0

Masters Hill^b¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 128

25/1

Best runs have come over shorter but he's looking well-handicapped now and has placed over this sort of trip. Unlikely to want the conditions too soft though.

Form: P3328-P

Fourth Act^t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Angus Cheleda⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 128

12/1

Never really got in to the race in a Listed event at Ascot but he has won on a course with similar characteristics to this and shaped with some promise on his run two starts back. Talented claimer booked whose record stands at three wins from five rides so this could well be the stable's first string.

Form: 31P2-44

Saint John Henry^b¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 127

17/2

Appreciated the step up in trip last time out to win over C&D. Respected in light of that effort. Best performances have come when making all though and he's likely to struggle on that basis here.

Form: 8325-61

Tobefair⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: T E Whelan| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 126

9/1

Impressive 100% record for this stable recording five wins on the spin. Only up another 6 lb for that and his wins have come in a variety of different conditions/circumstances so very much respected here.

Form: 6/111-11

Kilgeel Hill⁶⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: J McGrath| T: H Whittington| OR: 123

12/1

Has first start for new yard and while he's on a good mark and with a talented trainer, the near two-year absence is off-putting and percentage call tells one he will need the run.

Form: 421313/

Bon Enfant^b1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: N D Fehily| T: W Greatrex| OR: 122

18/1

Has failed to fire this year but yard are in flying form and he must have a chance if the step up in trip works the oracle.

Form: 11237-8

City Supreme^h,t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Mr W Gordon⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 115

16/1

Won well at Newbury in April but he's struggled since and it could just be he's in the handicappers grip.

Form: 054312-

Non-Runners

Minstrels Gallery³⁶

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: L Wadham J: L P Aspell

Forecasts

Barney Dwan (6/1), Lough Derg Leader (7/1), Clondaw Cian (7/1), Cogry (7/1), Scotchtown (8/1), Saint John Henry (17/2), Tobefair (9/1), Fourth Act (12/1), Kilgeel Hill (12/1), City Supreme (16/1), Minstrels Gallery (16/1), Bon Enfant (18/1), Masters Hill (25/1), Dan Emmett (33/1), Buddy Bolero (50/1)

Angus Chelada's record currently stands at 60% (three from five rides) and he's taken to take it to 66.6% here with a win on FOURTH ACT. The eight-year-old never got going last time at Ascot and he's better judged on his prior fourth at Cheltenham. He stuck on well after making an early mistake that day and he's likely to be one of the few to appreciate the soft conditions. Tobefair has been in flying form of late, winning a remarkable five on the spin and he has a good chance of making it a six timer provided things drop right for him. Lough Derg Leader is another one with the winning habit and there's no doubt he'll be in the shake up if returning in the same form. 1. Fourth Act 2. Tobefair 3. Lough Derg Leader