15:20 Wincanton

Saturday 18 February 2017

All13:4014:1514:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Betway Best Odds Guaranteed Plus Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:23 | Winning time: 5m 33.1s

Zulu Oscar^b1,t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Matt Griffiths| T: George Baker| OR: 128

40/1

Dual bumper winner who was well-paced to win three times over hurdles by Harry Fry but has yet to fire in two runs for new yard and suspicion remains that he is suited by better ground.

Form: 17P71-7

Walt²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 128

9/4

Former Nicky Henderson inmate who won well over 2m3f at Fontwell (soft) last month but was undone by a penalty when only third over C&D next time. Worth giving another chance to off current mark.

Form: 260-32

Spice Fair⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr Zac Baker⁽⁷⁾| T: M D I Usher| OR: 127

10/1

Experienced campaigner who hasn't scored since landing a decent event at Market Rasen on Boxing Day 2015 (13lb lower mark) but his consistency in defeat means the handicapper can't let go. No margin for error.

Form: 1323-54

Driftwood Haze¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽⁷⁾| T: P C Dando| OR: 125

12/1

Won twice in the mud at Ffos Las last season, including off today's mark, but has seemingly gone the wrong way since on the evidence of a heavy defeat at Chepstow last time. Others preferred.

Form: 308252-

Persian Delight^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 123

11/4

Promising bumper winner who has have offered plenty to work on by placing in two decent maiden hurdles at Chepstow so far, including when just touched off by Elegant Escape. Couldn't be in better hands and looks potentially well-treated on handicap bow.

Form: 17/2

McKenzie's Friend¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 114

5/2

Dual novice hurdle winner at Plumpton (both soft) last season but punished by the handicapper as a result and has found it tough going this term. Mark is coming down though, and dropped a further 3lb for finishing a well beaten third here last time.

Form: P2/6035-

Mondello^p,t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Woollacott| OR: 103

10/1

German Flat winner who had shown nothing over hurdles prior to going desperately close to causing an upset over C&D last month. This a much better contest, however.

Form: P-P20P4

Non-Runners

Dadsintrouble²⁷

Weight: 11-13| Age: 7

T: Tim Vaughan J: 2nd Preference

Midnight Sapphire⁷³

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: V R A Dartnall J: D A Jacob

Forecasts

Walt (9/4), McKenzie's Friend (5/2), Persian Delight (11/4), Dadsintrouble (7/2), Midnight Sapphire (7/1), Spice Fair (10/1), Mondello (10/1), Driftwood Haze (12/1), Zulu Oscar (40/1)

Paul Nicholls' bumper winner PERSIAN DELIGHT hasn't been totally convincing in two runs over hurdles so far but, with improvement in his locker, he has shown enough to suggest that he is potentially thrown in off a mark of 123 for his handicap debut as he steps up in trip. Walt is better than he showed over this C&D last time and looks sure to be competitive, as is Midnight Sapphire. 1. Persian Delight 2. Walt 3. Midnight Sapphire