15:25 Wetherby
Tuesday 21 March 2017
All14:2014:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:40
racinguk.com Handicap Hurdle
- 4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m | Good (Good to Soft in places) | 12 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 4m 1.54s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Moderate Flat performer for Kevin Ryan who has shown more of an aptitude for this game, showing steady improvement and putting up a decent effort behind the useful High Bridge at Catterick last time. Top weight to shoulder, but unlikely to have stopped improving.
Appears to be at his best on a sound surface and has won three of his nine starts. Holding a similar level of form this season, so likely to be capable of doing so again and entitled to consideration.
Won a couple of races this time last year before form tailed off from a few pounds higher. Decent effort on her return from a break, despite being flattered by the margin of defeat and she looks a leading player now down 2lb to her last winning mark.
Stepped up in trip at Catterick last time, though experiment didn't work and so drops back to the minimum, over which he won last season and also ran well enough in defeat here earlier this campaign. Still gives the impression he needs further assistance from the handicapper though.
Handicap debutant from a mark that you would not say is a giveaway by the assessor and that may be why he is being tried over a trip that is likely to prove too short. Ran well in a point-to-point on good ground, though looks best watched today.
Finally back on the mark from which he last won, 17 months ago at Warwick, having been beaten on all six starts since, including three over fences. Back over hurdles and with forecast conditions to suit he should be able to do better.
Has not managed to win since doing so in a C&D maiden hurdle last season, after which he avoided handicaps and went down the Graded route and was not disgraced. Has dropped further in the weights in handicaps this time and with this better ground likely to be a plus and some first-time headgear applied today could be the day he wins again.
Handicap debutant who has appreciated better ground in novices company and put in a couple of creditable efforts in that sphere. Another with a tough enough mark to start with, though 10lb claimer will help and not ruled out if there is support for him.
Won from 5lb higher over C&D last spring and still capable of putting together a decent performance, as was the case at Carlisle two starts ago when he went close from 3lb lower than today's pitch. Not sure he is in quite as good form as 12 months ago however.
Former Micky Hammond and Brian Ellison inmate who appreciates decent ground and is now 13lb lower than his only handicap hurdle win of a couple of years ago. Ran well here on first start for this yard from 6lb higher in December and a return to form would not surprise.
Many starts since his Kilbeggan maiden hurdle win and best recent effort was when back there last summer. British handicapper starts him from 11lb higher than his last run in Ireland for his first start here and it will be interesting to see what market confidence there is for him.
5lb higher than when taking a Stratford handicap hurdle in October (2m2½f, good), but shown little since then and probably best watched for the time being.
Non-Runners
13
Cloud Monkey68
Weight: 10-9| Age: 7
T: M Todhunter J: Brian Harding
NR
Forecasts
Our Thomas (4/1), Caius Marcius (5/1), William Of Orange (8/1), Taweyla (8/1), Diamond Rock (9/1), Hartside (10/1), Crickel Wood (10/1), Vodka Wells (12/1), Cloud Monkey (14/1), The Grinder (16/1), Sigurd (16/1), Cave Top (20/1), Fiosrach (25/1)
A competitive event with Taweyla and Crickel Wood both very much respected now back on winning marks, Cloud Monkey being given a clear chance by the assessor and Vodka Wells being one who is well handicapped on both his old and also some more recent form. However, OUR THOMAS is not only on a good mark, he also has his preferred conditions and has winning C&D form, so with headgear taken as a positive he is the suggestion.
- Our Thomas
- Taweyla
- Vodka Wells
Prize Money
1st: £4,549.002nd: £1,336.003rd: £668.004th: £334.00
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