15:55 Carlisle

Wednesday 8 February 2017

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5516:30

Lloyd Motor Group Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier For The Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final)

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 4m 35.7s

Tonto's Spirit¹⁰^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenneth Slack| OR: 114

4/7

Easy winner when making all at Sedgefield last week on his handicap debut for a shrewd yard. Turns out quickly and sole outing on the ground he's likely to encounter here resulted in him pulling up in a novice hurdle in march 2016. Looks likely to go well if handling the underfoot conditions.

Form: /P-1

The Herds Garden¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 120

8/1

Runner-up off 2lb higher mark over fences here in october and still in front when unseating his rider two from home at Newcastle last month. Reverts to hurdles for the first time for this yard here.

Form: 27FU6P

Staigue Fort⁶⁰⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: James Corbett⁽⁷⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 114

100/1

Only successes so far came on quick ground in autumn 2013. Disappointing when returning from a 14 month break at Worcester in june 2015 and absent since then. Clearly had his issues and can only be watched on debut for this yard.

Form: 16704/8-

Bowdler's Magic¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Dowson⁽⁵⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 112

12/1

Comfortable winner of a selling hurdle at Fakenham last month but well held returned to handicaps at Newcastle subsequently. Only handicap success in this sphere came off 8lb lower mark and handicapper appears to have his measure at present.

Form: 0-26559

Age Of Glory³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: A Nicol| T: B Butterworth| OR: 107

20/1

Winner of a CD handicap for this yard on debut for them in march 2015. .Well beaten since including in this race last year but off an 8lb lower mark than for that success and yard has a 17% strike rate here.

Form: 455/737-

Oishin⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Daragh Bourke⁽⁵⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 106

9/1

Successful at the first time of asking on his handicap debut at Newcastle on his most recent outing. Had shown only modest form over hurdles prior to that and will be interesting to see how he fares off an 8lb higher mark here.

Form: 154437

Stilo Blue Native⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: R Menzies| OR: 105

4/1

Winner at Sedgefield on his penultimate start but a disappointing favourite at the same venue upped in trip subsequently. Return this distance should suit as should likely softer ground with top jockey (ridden the last twice) again booked to ride.

Form: 2U-PF61

Mr Selby⁵⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: M Todhunter| OR: 105

33/1

Absent since successful in a novice hurdle at Market Rasen on good ground in august 2015. Has moved yards since and probably best watched as he makes his handicap debut.

Form: PPP/641-

Non-Runners

Never Up²³³

Weight: 10-13| Age: 6

T: J Parkinson & S Smith J: Danny Cook

Un Anjou²⁰

Weight: 10-9| Age: 9

T: David Dennis J: Aidan Coleman

Forecasts

Tonto's Spirit (4/7), Stilo Blue Native (4/1), The Herds Garden (8/1), Oishin (9/1), Never Up (10/1), Bowdler's Magic (12/1), Un Anjou (12/1), Age Of Glory (20/1), Mr Selby (33/1), Staigue Fort (100/1)

THE HERDS GARDEN can register a first success for his current yard by taking this handicap hurdle, he still held every chance when unseating his rider at Newcastle last month and can get the better of the front running Tonto's Spirit who's attempting to defy a penalty for a victory at Sedgefield last week. In what looks a competitive event Age Of Glory, a CD winner off an 8lb higher mark in 2015 but well beaten off that same mark in this last year can return to form by taking third for a yard who do well at this track with a 19% strike rate over hurdles here in recent years. 1. The Herds Garden 2. Tonto's Spirit 3. Age Of Glory