16:35 Market Rasen

Saturday 21 October 2017

All13:1013:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:05

Slippery Hitch Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 6m 12.40s

Kelvingrove^p²²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 127| C

9/2

A winner of three races over hurdles, most latterly at Haydock in April (2m7f good). However, he's not appeared all that keen on fencing so far on the evidence of his summer efforts at Worcester.

Form: 31-8246

Ready Token^t²⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Paul O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 126| CD

7/1

A four time winner over fences, with his most recent successes coming at Warwick (3m good/good to soft). Higher in the weights now and off since late December, but a previous C&D winner, so no track concerns.

Form: 2/11P04-

Sporting Boy^b,t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Farrelly| OR: 124| BF

6/1

Won a couple of 2m5f chases in the spring of 2015, but has been kept over hurdles since his return from a two year absence in August. A runner up in each of his last two starts; headed on the post at Uttoxeter latest.

Form: 115/022

Tickenwolf³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 123| D

14/1

Back to form at his beloved Hexham with a second success over fences last month (3m heavy) beating Presented by 6L. Up 6lb, and that's probably plenty enough as that was a relatively weak four runner affair.

Form: FP-44U1

Shake It Up⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 118| D

8/1

Been with a few trainers previously, and was scoring for Richard Ford (debut) when a ready 10L winner at Cartmel in August (3m1½f good to soft). Off since, up 12lb, and has switched stables once more. Yard also saddles Tickenwolf.

Form: 7594-31

Mister Don^p⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 117

7/2

A thoroughly consistent performer who earns no respite from the handicapper. Hasn't won since November 2016 (3m2f) but is now rated a whopping 20lb higher. Up 5lb since finishing a neck second to Packettotherafters at Bangor in August (3m good).

Form: 32-5322

Shady Glen^b,t¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 115| C| D

13/2

All three of his career successes have come over fences (2m5½f course winner in July), but handicapped to the max now, hence the recent switch to hurdles at Towcester when 36L fourth to the thriving Plantagenet.

Form: 312244

Red Giant^p¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 110| D

10/1

The 'winner' of the notorious 3m Perth void race fiasco, who thankfully for connections managed to scramble home on his next start at Kelso (2m5½f good). Beaten off this mark subsequently, so needs to bounce back with a career best effort.

Form: 656V17

Rough Justice⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Jamie Hamilton⁽³⁾| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 102| CD

16/1

His sole success this side of the Irish Sea came when winning over C&D on his penultimate start, beating Dreamsoftheatre by an all out ½L. No joy off 4lb higher at Sedgefield on his next start, and this looks fairly competitive.

Form: 34-P414

Forecasts

Mister Don (7/2), Kelvingrove (9/2), Sporting Boy (6/1), Shady Glen (13/2), Ready Token (7/1), Shake It Up (8/1), Red Giant (10/1), Tickenwolf (14/1), Rough Justice (16/1)

Plenty of reasons for which to build a case for a handful of these runners. However, the approach taken by Johnny Farrelly with SPORTING BOY since his return from a two year absence is a most commendable one which deserves some reward. This regular career winner (9 from 37) looked to have a fair future over fences when winning twice in the spring of 2015 (Stratford and Newton Abbot), but his trainer has been forced to be patient as the Barathea gelding has taken time to overcome his problems. Rather than rush straight back in over fences, he's been brought along steadily with clear progress in each race over hurdles, and was nabbed on the line by Beneficial Joe at Stratford a fortnight ago. Hopefully today is the day when the patience of his owner and trainer is finally rewarded.