13:30 Wincanton

Tuesday 26 December 2017

All12:2512:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 5m 44.4s

Different Gravey²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr William Biddick⁽³⁾| T: P Gundry| OR: 149| D

12/1

Useful hurdler at best for Nicky Henderson, but lost his way when switched to fences. Latest of two runs for this yard over the bigger obstacles was encouraging before he unseated rider, but he has plenty to do returned to hurdles off top weight.

Form: 155P-6U

Wait For Me^h,t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 142

10/3

Talented hurdler who has enjoyed mixed fortunes in three runs over fences. Back to hurdles off a high enough mark, but has a touch of class and enters calculations.

Form: 91-21F4

Boite³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 137

15/2

Quite consistent hurdler who warmed up for this assignment with a run in a decent flat race at Kempton. One to take seriously for a yard enjoying a good spell.

Form: 4/15803-

Bastien²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Kevin Dowling⁽⁷⁾| T: A King| OR: 135| D

9/2

Three wins from five starts, the latest at Towcester last month. Up another 10lb, which makes life tough, but has to be considered in his current vein of form under his claiming rider.

Form: 6113-31

Zero Grand²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Farrelly| OR: 134

20/1

Only one run so far this season when well held at Southwell. Should strip fitter, but looks to have plenty on his plate in quite a deep race.

Form: 44411-7

Protek Des Flos²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Ned Curtis⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132

10/1

Looked useful as a juvenile hurdler, but seemed to go off the boil and his two attempts at chasing have been disappointing. Back over hurdles with plenty to prove.

Form: 12/440-P

Padge⁶⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 132

12/1

Winning hurdler/chaser who is by no means badly treated. Has a long absence to overcome, however, and must have had his problems.

Form: 21FU30/

Poker Play^t³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 130

10/1

Definite signs of ability since joining current stable from France but has so far delivered less than he has promised. Sure to pop up at some stage, but may need to drop a few pounds more.

Form: 2120-5

Persian Delight^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 128| CD

7/1

Won a handicap over C&D in February and probably needed his reappearance run at Exeter last month. Down 2lb and has to be respected for his leafing trainer.

Form: 17/231-3

Saffron Wells^p¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 123| D

15/2

Has been mixing chasing and hurdling. Last run over timber at Exeter was respectable and he should give it a go under his promising claimer.

Form: U1-3443

Kansas City Chief²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 122

14/1

Showed fair form over fences in Ireland, but started off over hurdles at Lingfield for this stable and cut little ice. Plenty to prove 1lb out of the handicap.

Form: U18-275

Forecasts

Wait For Me (10/3), Bastien (9/2), Persian Delight (7/1), Boite (15/2), Saffron Wells (15/2), Protek Des Flos (10/1), Poker Play (10/1), Different Gravey (12/1), Padge (12/1), Kansas City Chief (14/1), Zero Grand (20/1)

A competitive handicap in which the improving Bastien looks sure to make a bold show. However, he has climbed to a career-high mark and may be vulnerable to a couple of these in Boite and PERSIAN DELIGHT. The latter, a C&D winner, should be straighter for his recent reappearance run and is taken to get his head in front again. Wait For Me, Protek Des Flos and Poker Play have questions to answer, but one or more of them could easily bounce back for their leading stables.