14:45 Towcester

Thursday 2 February 2017

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:25

Haygain Hay Steamers Clean Healthy Forage Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 6m 36.40s

The Artful Cobbler^p1²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jake Greenall| T: H D Daly| OR: 110

11/2

Just the one win from nine starts to date, but nicely handicapped on that win and may well find this easier than some of the races he's been contesting. Handles heavy ground fine and if short break has revived him, holds a decent chance of outclassing this field.

Form: 841PP-8

What A Diva^t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 109

6/1

Improved effort when winning at Market Rasen on latest start and although that was over half a mile shorter, stays well and trip not an issue. Needs to pull out a little more here and yard fairly quiet at present, despite a winner at Southwell on Monday.

Form: 241150

Pink Gin³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: M D Grant| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 107

11/4

Bounced back to form when winning at Exeter last time, and with the first two pulling well clear of a previous winner the form looks solid. Gets a 10lb rise for that but still on a fair mark and with trip/track/ground all fine, another big run looks on the cards.

Form: 6-41235

Scooby²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 104

5/1

Not really progressing as yet but certainly did no worse when upped to just short of three miles last time, staying on at one pace and given that, this track may suit. Little form on soft/heavy and generally seems to have been kept away from it, which is a concern.

Form: 455F-34

Pinnacle Peter²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R T Dunne| T: T Lacey| OR: 103

18/1

Only glimmers of ability in three runs under Rules so far but as a result, starts off handicapping on a low mark and given he won a point-to-point, this step up in trip may well suit too. Yard know the time of day and get first time up handicap winners (4-9 in the past year). Interesting.

Form: R23-150

Deckers Delight^v1²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: C Gethings⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 102

12/1

Lightly raced and sprang a 33-1 surprise on handicap debut at Hereford (3m1f) looking a thorough stayer in the process, and, although she's not repeated that in two runs since (in cheekpieces), she still has time on her side. Visor replaces cheekpieces today, and not discounted, with track and ground likely to suit.

Form: 5-8401

Quarry Wizard^h¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: R P McLernon| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 99

16/1

Much better on handicap debut at Lingfield, finishing a close third to Up For It in an amateur riders event, and if building on that over this longer trip (is a point winner, so that's possible) isn't without hope. Handled heavy ground there so that shouldn't be an issue here. Watch the market.

Form: P-51787

Minella Gathering¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: P J Brennan| T: P Henderson| OR: 89

7/2

Has looked a bit one-paced on most of his handicap starts, and although not disgraced on latest start at Warwick (backed into favouritism) would need to improve on that form. Stamina for this not proven either, with one effort at the trip a poor one (never travelled with any enthusiasm).

Form: 9/23615-

Non-Runners

Lime Street²³

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: T Symonds J: Benjamin Poste

Forecasts

Pink Gin (11/4), Minella Gathering (7/2), Scooby (5/1), The Artful Cobbler (11/2), What A Diva (6/1), Deckers Delight (12/1), Quarry Wizard (16/1), Pinnacle Peter (18/1), Lime Street (25/1)

An interesting little race, and a few that can be given chances. It may be worth giving the vote to Tom Lacey's PINNACLE PETER on his handicap debut here, given the yard know how to ready one for it's handicap debut and he's likely to show much better for this step up in trip today. Robbie Dunne taking over from an amateur rider looks another clue. Pink Gin came right back to form at Exeter last time and despite the weight rise, still looks well treated and if the first time cheekpieces have a galvanizing effect on The Artful Cobbler, he's not without hope dropped in grade here. Deckers Delight will be doing her best work late in the day. 1. Pinnacle Peter 2. Pink Gin 3. The Artful Cobbler