12:50 Wetherby

Friday 3 November 2017

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Watch Racing UK On BT TV Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 5m 32.10s

Strong Resemblance⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlotte Jones⁽⁸⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 110

11/2

Has already had several races over a very similar trip at Cartmel, his best two efforts being on good to soft, including when making the frame last time. Raised 8lb for that, which makes this a tough ask on his handicap debut.

Form: 53-5243

Alfie's Choice^p1²²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 110

13/2

Made a positive start to his handicapping career when a 9L third (2m7f, good to soft) when last seen at Exeter in March. Same mark as that today and looks open to improvement, especially if cheek pieces have a positive effect.

Form: 4/0353-

Knight Commander²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁸⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 109| BF

7/2

Showed improved form during the summer when winning a couple of races over shorter trips (both good to soft) and running creditably from marks similar to today's. Step up in trip offers scope for further progress and he could go very well.

Form: 4-11324

Mister Big⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Teal⁽⁶⁾| T: N B King| OR: 107

25/1

Not yet been able to reproduce a good effort in a Chepstow novices' hurdle from about a year ago and subsequently left Philip Hobbs for current trainer. Was too keen when tried over a similar trip last time and comes here with a few points to prove.

Form: 5/29F5-P

Tiger Mountain^v1²⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: J M Jefferson| OR: 107

14/1

Best effort by some margin was when a 2½L runner-up (2m4f, soft) in a Sedgefield novices' hurdle a year ago. Well held in both handicap runs since. Dropped 3lb coming into this and now visored. Couldn't rule out a better effort.

Form: 5/74205-

Skipthescales^p1²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 105

10/1

Placed in a couple of Carlisle novices' hurdles earlier in the year when with Martin Todhunter, though tailed off from just 1lb higher on his reappearance/stable debut at Hexham last month. Cheekpieces may help but will need to improve to win this.

Form: 3523-6

Caged Lightning^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Jamie Bargary| T: S Gollings| OR: 105

5/1

Spent well over a year off the track before returning and proving his well being with a couple of recent Flat runs. Trip and ground are not a problem and now he has blown off the cobwebs he is interesting back over hurdles and dropped 5lb.

Form: 2433/

Schnabel¹⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Kieron Edgar| T: David Dennis| OR: 105

15/2

Some of his novices' hurdle form from earlier in the year suggests that he is no forlorn hope here, while his last run at Kempton in May (from 1lb higher) was not without encouragement. However, of more concern for him is the forecast soft ground.

Form: 06456-4

Picknick Park²⁰⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁸⁾| T: N Kent| OR: 102

14/1

Showed that he handles soft ground at Market Rasen earlier in the year and if he could reproduce that effort then he has a squeak from this mark. However, the main concern for him is stamina, as he has yet to convince over this far.

Form: 566326-

Skywards Reward²¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: H Thompson Brown⁽⁸⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 97

20/1

Consistent, though not finding much in the way of improvement in bumpers/novices' hurdles so far. Returns after a seven-month break here for his handicap debut from a mark that looks stiff enough and is perhaps best watched.

Form: 9/76536-

Border Victor²⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 93

25/1

Goes into this on the back of a 5lb drop, which is understandable after a 26L defeat when last seen here over 3m in April. Drop back in trip probably positive, but looks to have plenty to prove.

Form: 855447-

On A Promise²⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 91

14/1

Beaten out of sight in all four starts last season and dropped 7lb since most recent run at Newcastle in February. Patient trainer should be capable of finding a race for him and it would be no surprise to see a better effort now back up in trip.

Form: 7875-

Psychocandy^p¹⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: W Featherstone| T: Ian Williams| OR: 89

16/1

Looked very moderate for the most part last season, but was beginning to shape up a little better in the spring. Drops back in trip from her last run for this reappearance from a mark that might allow her to show her capabilities.

Form: 787U2-5

Forecasts

Knight Commander (7/2), Caged Lightning (5/1), Strong Resemblance (11/2), Alfie's Choice (13/2), Schnabel (15/2), Skipthescales (10/1), On A Promise (14/1), Tiger Mountain (14/1), Picknick Park (14/1), Psychocandy (16/1), Skywards Reward (20/1), Border Victor (25/1), Mister Big (25/1)

A modest opener where the suggestion is KNIGHT COMMANDER. Olly Murphy's dual winner handles some cut and this trip offers a bit more scope for improvement, so he gets the vote. Tiger Mountain has conditions and trip to suit and if the headgear works then a big run would not surprise. Alfie's Choice is likely to be able to acquit himself well on this reappearance run, while Schnabel is respected and support for On A Promise would be very interesting.