13:40 Towcester

Thursday 30 November 2017

All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:40

Weatherbys Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:41 | Winning time: 5m 17.30s

Bastien¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Kevin Dowling⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A King| OR: 125| BF

4/1

Made a solid start to his hurdles career when winning a pair of novice events and the return to action after a break last time was solid enough. There was certainly enough promise in that last run to give him a good chance here.

Form: 4/6113-3

Who's My Jockey²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 123

10/3

Interesting handicap debutante who has displayed some good form in bumpers/novice hurdles. Sure to have more improvement left in him and looks to be on a potentially good mark; has started favourite on all three Rules runs.

Form: 1-31

Golan Fortune^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁷⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 123

11/2

Raised 5lb for his win at Sandown on his last start (improved form) with Bastien back in third. Still only lightly-raced over hurdles and may well have more to offer despite the higher mark.

Form: F-13301

Jennys Day⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 120

20/1

Rather disappointed last time out at Ffos Las after showing much better form on her previous run. Ground may not have suited on that occasion and would have a chance if reproducing her penultimate run from Wincanton.

Form: 2PP0-27

Russian Service⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Adrian Heskin| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 120

20/1

Best effort so far came when wining a Chepstow novice by 5L earlier in the year when with Tom Lacey. More than likely needed the run last time out at Warwick when ultimately disqualified (rider weighed in light); best effort at 2m.

Form: 47165-D

Tempuran²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 118| D

13/2

Certainly found his best form last time out when gaining a victory at Ludlow (second has run well since). That run looked visually impressive but he's raised 10lb for that win and faces a stiffer task here against some improving types.

Form: 66-3421

Milord^v²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 118| CD

11/1

Last win came over 3m at Taunton and he is a C&D winner so the test will suit here. Looked to be back to form on his penultimate start and ran well enough over fences last time although this looks tougher than either of those assignments.

Form: 315-745

Brown Bear²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: L P Aspell| T: N J Gifford| OR: 115| C| D

6/1

Winner of his last three race two hurdles wins with a chase victory in the middle so very much a horse on the up. Showed his best form at Ascot last time out after a break with fitness not an issue but up another 8lb now.

Form: 41-6111

Maguire's Glen¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: M Hamill⁽⁵⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 115

25/1

Winner at Newton Abbot in October by 13L on heavy ground he's not lived up to that run since in two starts. Did though race on the unfavoured part of the track last time out at Cheltenham and may be a little better than that run suggests.

Form: 6-421P7

Acertain Circus⁹²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Kielan Woods| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 114

14/1

Returns from a very long absence with his yard in decent form but faces a stiff task here. Has shown some relatively sound form over hurdles but that was two plus years ago now and best watched on his return to action.

Form: 138844/

Now Mcginty²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: S Edmunds| OR: 114

14/1

Goes handicapping for the first time for a yard that are always worth watching with this type. Would need to show more than he has so far (two thirds in maiden hurdles) but shouldn't be totally ruled out of this given his profile.

Form: 5343-33

Verano^t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Ross Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 107

33/1

Not really shown an awful lot in two starts since returning from a long absence and faces plenty of improvers in this. Would need to take a big step forward to figure.

Form: 33P/5-70

Forecasts

Who's My Jockey (10/3), Bastien (4/1), Golan Fortune (11/2), Brown Bear (6/1), Tempuran (13/2), Milord (11/1), Acertain Circus (14/1), Now Mcginty (14/1), Jennys Day (20/1), Russian Service (20/1), Maguire's Glen (25/1), Verano (33/1)

A competitive contest with plenty of interesting types that could improve yet in the handicap sphere. Bastien ran a sound third behind Golan Fortune last time and could well reverse the form with Brown Bear respected as a horse on the up although he does have more to do here. Now McGinty makes his handicap debut and it won’t be a surprise to see him offer more over a testing trip as he’s bred to stay further. WHO’S MY JOCKEY was impressive when scoring by 6L at Uttoxeter and there’s every reason to believe that he’s well treated here stepping into handicap company for the first time from a yard who are going well at the moment.