16:25 Towcester

Thursday 2 February 2017

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

Watch Towcester Greyhounds On Attheraces Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:26 | Winning time: 5m 14.72s

Thatchers Gold^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 102

14/1

Now on a mark 3lb lower than when winning at Uttoxeter back in 2015, but that's due to a series of moderate displays over varying trips and ground over the past year. This trip and ground are probably his optimum conditions, but hard to know what he's capable of at present.

Form: 4P593-6

Be Seeing You^p,t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: M Hamill⁽⁷⁾| T: T Wall| OR: 102

20/1

Bought by current connections after finishing second to Rock Of Leon in a Worcester seller last summer, but little promise in two runs for them and no form on soft/heavy that gives him much hope here either.

Form: 257004-

Lord Ballim^h1,t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: C Gethings⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 101

16/1

Never nearer than third in 14 starts so far, and little to recommend on recent efforts, but probably didn't stay three miles last time and drop back in trip may help. Still plenty to find, however.

Form: P2111U

Present Times³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 100

6/1

Much better on last couple of runs when a close fifth to Third Act at Exeter and then made favourite at Ffos Las on the back of that, only just going down to a well-handicapped rival. Shapes like this step up in trip will suit and if it does, has a chance.

Form: 40F0-52

Early Retirement³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jake Greenall| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 100

9/2

Improved plenty for going handicapping last time at Warwick, finding only the front-running (and well backed) Sparkling River too good. Travelled really well there and despite a 4lb ride for that, there's every possibility of more improvement to come here and holds a leading chance in a moderate race.

Form:

Cougar Kid¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Miss Brodie Hampson⁽⁷⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 97

16/1

Did best of the hold-up horses when finishing third at Hereford on his latest start, although still well beaten in the finish and didn't look like a winner in waiting. Seemed to handle heavy ground there, which is a plus, but still requires more here.

Form: 391P82-

Alla Svelta^p¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 95

40/1

Useful hurdler at a low level once upon a time, but mark has been in freefall for a while and no promise on recent comeback run after 16 months off. Would prefer better ground too.

Form: 65952F-

Cheltenam De Vaige³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Zac Baker⁽⁷⁾| T: G R I Smyly| OR: 95

20/1

Some promise in a Warwick bumper on debut around a year ago, but little since and jumping technique becoming an issue. Needs to improve a lot for going handicap debut today.

Form: 30-798

Scartare^h²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Benjamin Poste⁽³⁾| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 93

25/1

Shown only glimmers of ability in four maiden hurdles but not completely disgraced when seventh over two miles here at Towcester on latest start, staying on late in the day. Goes handicapping on a basement mark and if the step up in trip brings out a bit more improvement, he could run well at likely big odds.

Form: 79/49-57

Ypsilanti²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: T H Weston| OR: 90

11/8

Won with any amount in hand over fences at Doncaster last week, landing a punt in the process, and will be well fancied to go in again here off the same mark. However, isn't as good over hurdles as fences and will face totally different conditions here, so it may not be the penalty kick this first appears, despite being on the same mark.

Form: 1F1-848

Sizing Sahara¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr G Treacy⁽⁷⁾| T: P Henderson| OR: 88

25/1

Looks regressive and out of love with the game on recent starts; hopes are pinned on a return to hurdling, but little chance all the same.

Form: F544-PU

Charlie Parker²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: M D Grant| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 94

33/1

Only young so has the possibility of improvement, and wouldn't have been completely disgraced had he stood up at Warwick (probably fourth/fifth) and looks like making a better hurdler than Flat horse. The worries today are the track and the ground - flatter and quicker might help his cause but not totally discounted regardless..

Form: 654U50-

Albatros De Guye³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: P J Brennan| T: Miss A M Newton-Smith| OR: 80

20/1

Unreliable and untrustworthy, and although the booking of Paddy Brennan is quite eyecatching, he really needs to put some dreadful runs this winter behind him.

Form: 4P12-P4

Non-Runners

Distant Sound⁵³

Weight: 11-2| Age: 10

T: G Harris J: Mr Robert Hawker

Forecasts

Ypsilanti (11/8), Early Retirement (9/2), Present Times (6/1), Distant Sound (8/1), Thatchers Gold (14/1), Lord Ballim (16/1), Cougar Kid (16/1), Cheltenam De Vaige (20/1), Albatros De Guye (20/1), Be Seeing You (20/1), Sizing Sahara (25/1), Scartare (25/1), Charlie Parker (33/1), Alla Svelta (40/1)

Many will stop at Ypsilanti as the likeliest winner here, as he won with his head in his chest at Doncaster last week but he faces completely different conditions here and he may be worth taking on with EARLY RETIREMENT, who travelled like a dream at Warwick on his handicap debut but gave the winner too much rope. With more improvement likely, he can cause a minor upset here. The rest are much of a muchness, but Scartare might outrun likely big odds and hit the frame. 1. Early Retirement 2. Ypsilanti 3. Scartare