15:30 Southwell
Monday 6 March 2017
All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:30
grandnational2017.com Handicap Hurdle
- 4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 7f 209y | Soft (Heavy in places) | 6 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 6m 50.14s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Beat the useful Label des Obeaux over hurdles last season but has not looked the same horse since. Checked out early last time and hard to recommend until offering more encouragement.
Easy to back last time when dropped in trip. Came up against an improving mare that day and this looks easier. Handicap mark is undemanding if she gets the trip.
Has improved with each run and needs to do so again. A 3lb rise for his defeat in a weak race last time makes his prospects less attractive. May have more to come but others appear better treated.
Undoubtedly flattered by his proximity to Lady Buttons last time but that mare has bolted up again since. The way he was finishing that day suggests this trip is worth a try. That was his first run in 21 months so improvement can be expected.
Cheekpieces and a step up in trip failed to inspire any progress last time. Continues to tumble down the weights but needs to show positive signs before he can be recommended.
Distant third in this last year off a similar mark. This looks a better renewal and his recent form is not encouraging.
Non-Runners
2
Ossie's Dancer29
Weight: 11-10| Age: 8
T: Martin Smith J: Tom Cheesman
NR
4
Lough Salt31
Weight: 11-7| Age: 6
T: M Walford J: Jake Greenall
NR
Forecasts
Malapie (6/4), Ballyhenry (7/2), Grace Tara (5/1), Lough Salt (5/1), Popelys Gull (11/2), Seven Kingdoms (10/1), Fresh By Nature (20/1), Ossie's Dancer (25/1)
GRACE TARA is a winning point-to-pointer in heavy ground which suggests she may come into her own over this sort of trip. She came up against a useful sort last time and gets to race off the same mark here. She is the only in form contender who has not been penalised by the handicapper and she is taken to account for Malapie. The lightly raced nine-year-old came up against a well handicapped rival last time, He was noted staying on well but a 4lb rise in the weights has made his task harder since the handicapper has taken a more lenient view with the selection. Popelys Gull is steadily improving and makes more appeal than the remainder who have been out of sorts lately.
- Grace Tara
- Malapie
- Popelys Gull
Prize Money
1st: £4,224.002nd: £1,240.003rd: £620.004th: £310.00
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