Winners Are Welcome At Matchbook Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 5m 9.60s

Toviere⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 115

11/4

Placed on all his starts over hurdlers in maiden/novice company he does run the risk of bumping into improvers in that sphere and is probably better off in handicaps (makes his debut today). There look to be a few improvers lurking in this line-up but he should go well here although this stable are a little quiet at the moment.

Form: 242343-

Quarenta^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 115

5/2

Successful on his second start in an AW bumper his hurdling form so far has been a little disappointing although he did make a step forward most recently on his second handicap run. Travelled well for a long way in a race over C&D although in the end his finishing effort was rather tame and you would just want to see him finish a race off before rushing in to support him.

Form: 1/774P-2

Magic Bullet^h¹⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 112

6/1

Not too hard to envisage some improvement now as he goes handicapping for the first time coming from a top stable. His novice form is only modest but he does look to have been brought along with handicaps in mind and no surprise to see him do better here.

Form: 4/44508-

Schnabel⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: N D Fehily| T: David Dennis| OR: 106

6/1

Has caught the eye on more than one occasion in novice events (not given a hard time) and gone with enthusiasm. Failed to make a stride forward in handicap debut (was expected to) but certainly worth another look off a 2lb lower mark than on his debut in this sphere.

Form: 306456-

Mab Dab²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs L C Jewell| OR: 105

10/1

The move into handicaps and the increased trip saw an improved performance from this one on handicap debut at Plumpton. Looked value for further that the narrow winning margin (idled in the closing stages) and raised just 3lb for that win although this looks a tougher contest.

Form: 6/59371-

Be My Sea²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Lee Edwards| T: A W Carroll| OR: 105

11/2

Quite useful on the Flat (both wins on the AW) he looks as though he could do better over hurdles although this trip may well stretch him. Makes his handicap debut over hurdles here but faces a few doing the same and who look a bit ahead of him.

Form: 3445/62-

Non-Runners

I'm Still Waiting¹¹⁷

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: F O'Brien J: P J Brennan

Forecasts

Quarenta (5/2), Toviere (11/4), Be My Sea (11/2), Schnabel (6/1), Magic Bullet (6/1), I'm Still Waiting (8/1), Mab Dab (10/1)

Quite an interesting little handicap with Toviere making his handicap debut off top weight but he does face few that could trouble him with his stable being a little quiet at the moment. Quarenta certainly travelled well last time out (questionable finishing effort) and Magic Bullet is expected to improve going into handicaps while Mab Dab might be capable of better. SCHNABEL is perhaps though the one who holds most interest having caught the eye in a couple of previous starts and on his second handicap start he looks a little bit of value here.