14:50 Wetherby

Saturday 18 November 2017

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:2015:50

totescoop6 Three Ways To Win Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 3m 56.40s

Keep In Line³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 137| D

2/1

Was a very useful novice who was not far away in a couple of Grade 2 races last season over this sort of trip. Returned to action over C&D last month with an excellent effort to be a ¾L second. Up 3lb but form very solid and he has claims.

Form: 1439F-2

Only Orsenfoolsies¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Craig Nichol| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 126| D

25/1

You have to go back to the spring 2013 to find his two hurdles wins on soft/heavy ground, though he has run some good races in defeat since. If he runs to his best then he could get competitive, but needs to raise his game to win.

Form: 4P/2524-

Our Kylie²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr Kaine Wood⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 126| D

10/1

Has enjoyed a successful 2017, winning two on the Flat (1m4f/1m6f) and then twice over hurdles at Sedgefield (2m1f, good), the more recent from 7lb lower. Well held from just 1lb higher last time, so needs to pull out some more to win again.

Form: 11-0115

Blue Hussar³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Finian O'Toole⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 124| BF| CD

6/1

Was a C&D scorer in novices company in March and followed up at Kelso (2m2f) next time. Scored over 2m½f on the Flat since then, so fitness not a concern on his return to hurdles and now handicapping from an attractive mark. Claims.

Form: P2112-

Irish Roe¹³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: P Atkinson| OR: 120| D

7/2

Has been well placed to win five of her eight starts under rules, including a Listed mares' bumper at Cheltenham a year ago. 2-2 over hurdles so far and now goes handicapping. Mark looks stiff enough on her bare form but she can't be ruled out.

Form: 1107-11

Modulus^v²³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Ryan Winks⁽⁵⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 113| D

25/1

Comes here fresh after an eight-month break following a tremendous February/March, winning four of his last five, all on soft or heavy ground. Up 5lb going into this and entitled to go on short-lists to pick up from where he left off.

Form: 416111-

William Of Orange^b,t⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 112| D

11/2

Sole hurdling win was in January 2016 in a Catterick novices contest (1m7½f, soft) but handicapper's interpretation of that has differed from what he has produced since. Well held on his reappearance and probably has each-way claims at best.

Form: 8544-P5

Spectator^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 111| D

6/1

Won a Kelso maiden hurdle (2m, good to firm) 13 months ago and had just one more run last season. Returned from an 11-month absence to be a 2½L runner-up at Carlisle (2m1f, heavy) last month and from 2lb higher he should be thereabouts.

Form: 713-2

Forecasts

Keep In Line (2/1), Irish Roe (7/2), William Of Orange (11/2), Spectator (6/1), Blue Hussar (6/1), Our Kylie (10/1), Only Orsenfoolsies (25/1), Modulus (25/1)

A very competitive contest and once in which KEEP IN LINE is fancied to underline his class. Alan King's gelding has to give plenty of weight away to his opponents, but he is very consistent and his return run over C&D suggests that he can find a few pounds of improvement to win again today. Blue Hussar is fit from the Flat and on a handy-looking mark, so he could emerge as a leading danger, while Modulus and the mare Irish Roe both have further potential improvement to come. Spectator has a featherweight to carry and could also get involved.