15:50 Leicester

Tuesday 24 January 2017

All13:2013:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:20

Humberstone Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 3m 54.1s

Hill Fort^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Stan Sheppard⁽⁵⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 110

6/1

Two miles and soft ground suits, as was the case when he landed a Chepstow handicap hurdle in April from a 2lb higher mark. Well beaten in all starts since, but hails from a stable that has winners here and not ruled out now that the handicapper has relented.

Form: 96420-2

Trapper Peak^b,t⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: P J Brennan| T: C R Dore| OR: 108

8/1

Selling hurdle winner around here (2m, soft) in November who has struggled in two recent handicap starts and likely to have to wait for another day.

Form: 82564-7

Zante⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 107

12/1

Joined his trainer in February of last year and only took him three starts until taking a Plumpton maiden hurdle two months later. That race has not worked out well and this mark seems no more than fair, though his handler's more than capable of working with it.

Form: 61/0264-

Moss Street^b,t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Conor Shoemark| T: C R Dore| OR: 107

50/1

Took a Huntingdon claimer in October but all wins have been on a sound surface and has both that and a tough enough mark to overcome.

Form: 50-9PP5

Dormouse^p¹⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: R Johnson| T: Mrs A L M King| OR: 105

7/1

Now 9lb lower than the mark from which this veteran last won, at Lingfield in December 2015. Yet to win with the champion jockey on board but went well enough for him last time and not ruled out.

Form: 1147-50

Innoko^h¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Nick Slatter⁽⁵⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 104

6/1

Handicapper did not miss his best run for some time when runner-up in a big field handicap hurdle at Taunton last time and he has now gone up 5lb despite the defeat. Not totally dismissed, but no easy task.

Form: 39/31-37

Nebula Storm^b²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: H Cobden⁽³⁾| T: M Blake| OR: 103

20/1

Won a soft ground Southwell handicap hurdle 14 months ago from 6lb lower when visored, though ineffective in blinkers thus far. Yard's runners in decent form and good claimer up, so hope of a decent run at a price.

Form: 41237-0

Miss Benefitz²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: Mike Hammond| OR: 103

25/1

Runner-up in a Ballinrobe maiden hurdle last year before disappointing on sole start for Richard Fahey at Southwell in August. Well beaten here earlier in the month on first start since then and plenty to prove.

Form: PP05P-7

Master Vintage^h²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽⁵⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 102

16/1

Positive start to handicapping career at Sandown last time out, but that was almost two years ago. Handicapper allows him to resume from 8lb lower this time and yard among the winners recently, so not beyond the realms of possibility that he could go very well.

Form: 883/146

Monday Club^p¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: M D Grant| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 110

10/1

Thrashed in Grade One company last time but this is much more realistic. Has made the frame twice from three attempts over hurdles and with the age allowance here he is entitled to take a hand.

Form: 335

Akula¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Alan Johns⁽³⁾| T: B Leavy| OR: 92

7/2

Conditions suit and now 5lb below his most recent hurdles success, which was almost two years ago. Not seen anything like enough to recommend him even in this moderate affair.

Form: 421173-

Orthodox Lad^p³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: James Banks| T: G Harris| OR: 85

5/1

All three wins have been on good ground, though handles cut well enough. Has made the frame on his last three starts and claims of doing so again with his feather weight.

Form: 35F757-

Non-Runners

Friendship Bay¹⁶

Weight: 11-2| Age: 13

T: H J Evans J: Benjamin Poste

Forecasts

Akula (7/2), Orthodox Lad (5/1), Hill Fort (6/1), Innoko (6/1), Dormouse (7/1), Trapper Peak (8/1), Monday Club (10/1), Zante (12/1), Friendship Bay (12/1), Master Vintage (16/1), Nebula Storm (20/1), Miss Benefitz (25/1), Moss Street (50/1)

A very tricky race with not much in the way of ability on show but ZANTE may be able to claim it. Gary Moore did not take long in getting a win out of the five-year-old and although the race has not worked out well, he may still be able to improve his charge. Hill Fort gives weight away all round but he is back on a more attractive mark and could do better than of late. Nebula Storm and Orthodox Lad both have some sort of claim, while if there is to be a fly in the ointment then Master Vintage could fit the bill. 1. Zante 2. Hill Fort 3. Master Vintage