17:10 Perth

Wednesday 26 April 2017

All14:0014:3515:0515:3516:1016:4017:10

Fonab Castle And Spa Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:14 | Winning time: 3m 51.60s

Sleepy Haven³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 127

7/1

3lb higher than his latest win, which was over a similar trip at Leicester (good to soft) in December. Comfortably accounted for in all four starts since and looks like the handicapper is winning the battle at present. May want more testing conditions.

Form: 129442

Wisty¹⁸⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: M Todhunter| OR: 126

20/1

In good form last summer and handicapper has talken his measure since. Off the track since October and yard are 2-47 with break returners off 150+ days.

Form: 123130

Great Fighter^v⁵^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 116

11/8

Visor worked a treat at Ayr last week when beating a stronger looking field than this. Carries a 7lb penalty which may not be enough to stop him. On a more cautionary note he has been hit and miss in the past.

Form: 753411-

Meadowcroft Boy³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Craig Nichol| T: A C Whillans| OR: 112

15/2

Without a win since his novice days (December 2013). Looking well handicapped on old form, but just haven't seen enough from him lately to think that a return to form is imminent.

Form: 2/93-555

Idder^p³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: James Moffatt| OR: 112

15/2

Probably squandered an easier opportunity than this last time. Yard do not have a good record here and others make more appeal.

Form: 31423-1

Mountain Kingdom^h,t¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Adrian Heskin| T: C A McBratney| OR: 111

11/2

Suited to summer ground and produced some good performances here in 2016 before scoring at Downpatrick. Well handicapped on those C&D efforts and will be better for his three recent runs following a layoff. One to note in the market with top rider engaged.

Form: 422176

Aldeburgh¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 108

8/1

This will be the first time he is due to get the decent ground he needs over hurdles. The handicapper has given him a chance whilst his recent efforts on the Flat confirm his wellbeing. His Flat rating and a Doncaster second in December 2015 suggest he is well in here.

Form: 0026/77-

Weapon Of Choice^p,t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 105

25/1

Has been around a long time and showed he was no back number when winning at Musselburgh in November. Younger rivals may be more progressive.

Form: 71605-2

Forecasts

Great Fighter (11/8), Mountain Kingdom (11/2), Sleepy Haven (7/1), Idder (15/2), Meadowcroft Boy (15/2), Aldeburgh (8/1), Wisty (20/1), Weapon Of Choice (25/1)

Great Fighter will be all the rage having scored so convincingly at Ayr last week. The visor worked then but his profile suggests he may not be one to rely on at short odds to repeat the feat. At the foot of the handicap ALDEBURGH and Mountain Kingdom can claim to be well handicapped in this. The latter appears to have been primed for this with three runs that have shown signs of progression. The Irish challenger has gone well around here before and providing there is little give in the ground he should give a good account. ALDEBURGH has little mileage on the clock over hurdles, but his one good run over timber came on the only occasion he got his required ground. His mark has tumbled as a result. Having advertised his wellbeing on the Flat recently he looks a likely type to justify support at attractive odds.