14:30 Carlisle
Monday 20 February 2017
All14:0014:3015:0015:3516:1016:4517:15
Racing UK Day Pass Just 10 Handicap Hurdle
- 4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 1f | Good to Soft (Soft in places) | 11 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 4m 26.15s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Very useful hurdler in his pomp but has regressed from that level these days. Last win came at Stratford in August and has run well enough in two subsequent hurdles starts at Southwell and Doncaster. Ran poorly on the Flat recently and can jump sketchily on occasions.
Winner off a Fakenham seller in early January over 2m4f that built on his good record at that particular track. Matched that form when second over C&D recently when back in a handicap although was flattered to get so close to the well-handicapped winner.
Dual winner on the Flat at up to 1m4f but yet to score over hurdles. Four tries over hurdles so far (made favourite on debut) and finished runner-up at Market Rasen and Ayr. Not quite up that level on his latest start at Market Rasen when returning from a break but given his Flat form is still of interest going handicapping for the first time off this mark.
Consistent handicap hurdler although can look rather hard to win with and the losing run is starting to stack up now. Tends to get behind and can look a hard ride. On a course that suits front-runners, there must be a question mark about how suitable this track will prove for him.
Returns from a long absence although has shown some useful form in the past most notably when winning back-to-back handicap hurdles off lower marks in mid-2015. Ran respectably after the wins off much higher marks only disappointing on his last start when running without his usual hood at Perth and that piece of headgear is re-applied today on his return to action.
In good form of late, scoring on consecutive occasions here in October/November off marks of 88 and 95. Looked to be struggling after that off higher marks but bounced back to form last time out at Sedgefield over 2m5f winning what looked to be a modest contest against a weak finisher in The Doorman. Now runs off a career high mark in what looks to be a tougher contest than last time out.
Yet to win over hurdles or fences in 15 attempts although he did run one of his better races last time out at Towcester when second over 2m3f. Given plenty to do in a first-time hood he may well have won if he had started his run earlier but he's not an easy ride as his overall record shows.
Best performance came over C&D nearly two years ago when taking a handicap off a mark 10lb higher. Lightly raced since then but showed that he still retains some ability over C&D on his last run (second start for this yard) when finishing third to the well-handicapped Tonto's Spirit (Bowdler's Magic second) and dropped a further 2lb here.
Poor bumper performer but has shown improvement over hurdles and won on handicap debut at Newcastle on his penultimate start (2m) off a mark of 98. Failed to confirm that form last time out when well behind over C&D and has work to do with a couple of rivals and his jumping needs to be far better than it was last time out.
Cartmel winner in June off a mark of 97 but not seen after that win until recently and has run two poor races at Market Rasen and Southwell (pulled-up). Still 2lb above her last winning mark and others have better claims.
Won an Irish point-to-point on his debut but has so far proved to be fairly modest in bumpers and over hurdlers. Has looked a little better since going handicapping though and showed up well in testing conditions last time out behind a winner who was completing a hat-trick. That run came in first-time blinkers/tongue-tie combination (removed here) as he makes his debut for his current yard off a 3lb lower mark and if he can jump better here would be of interest.
Forecasts
Theatre Act (7/2), Kanturk Bank (4/1), Lord Ballim (11/2), Hartside (6/1), Strait Of Magellan (15/2), Bowdler's Magic (9/1), Age Of Glory (10/1), Oishin (20/1), Sailors Warn (25/1), Politeness (50/1), Squeeze Me (100/1)
This wouldn’t be a strong handicap hurdle by any stretch of the imagination with the obvious one being Strait Of Magellan as he goes handicapping for the first time off a mark that he should be capable of winning off. Both Lord Ballim and Theatre Act would have claims although the former has yet to win and can look an awkward ride, while the latter now has work to do off this mark. Sailors Warn is more than capable off this mark but he does need to jump better and it may pay to take a chance with AGE OF GLORY. He’s only lightly raced but did win here off a higher mark two years ago and shaped well on a recent effort here.
1. Age Of Glory
2. Strait Of Magellan
3. Sailors Warn
Prize Money
1st: £3,899.002nd: £1,145.003rd: £572.004th: £286.00
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