15:15 Wetherby

Wednesday 27 December 2017

All12:3013:0013:3014:0514:4015:15

Bet 10 Get 20 At 188Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:19 | Winning time: 6m 49.90s

Diamant de L'Ouest⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Kaine Wood⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 100

28/1

Has shown a bit of ability in three outings over hurdles, including on soft last time at Hexham. Now takes marked step up in trip for handicap debut and pedigree suggests stamina could be a concern. Perhaps best watched today.

Form: 89-674

Flemerina⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 97

5/1

Scored over a similar trip (soft) at Market Rasen earlier in the year. Well held all three starts this autumn and still 3lb higher than that win, though 5lb claim a help and can't be ruled out.

Form: 241-448

Final Fling^p²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: A Nicol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 94

10/1

Sole success was over this sort of trip at Hexham (good) in August, when 5lb lower. Handles cut, but beaten three times from today's mark since that win, so needs to eek out some improvement.

Form: 291356

Spoils Of War^p⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 92| BF| D

12/1

1-17 so far, that win coming at Perth (3m, good) in May from a 3lb lower mark. Handles cut in the ground and ran well at Ayr two starts ago when a 7L fourth from this mark and has each-way claims again today.

Form: 13P24U

Turtle Cask^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 90

20/1

Pops up now and again (3-34) over hurdles and usually when there is plenty of cut underfoot. Scored on heavy at Hexham on September from just 2lb lower and if back in that sort of form here he has claims.

Form: 951683

Tickanrun⁶⁰²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 89

6/1

Made the frame 4-9 over hurdles for Chris Grant but yet to win one. Makes stable debut here after 19-month absence. Stays well and acts on soft ground, so from this 5lb lower mark he has claims if fit to do himself justice.

Form: 57262/2-

Psychocandy^p³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: W T Kennedy| T: Ian Williams| OR: 89

5/1

Was still going well enough when falling here over 2m5½f (soft) last month. Was run out of second at Uttoxeter last time from today's mark, so step up in trip has to be a bit of a concern.

Form: 7U2-5F3

Houndscourt^p,t²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 85| CD

33/1

Won over C&D (good to soft) in January from 9lb lower and has run other good races here. Out of sorts on his last two runs over fences, including when never in it at Sedgefield last time. Has to bounce back from that.

Form: 12548-P

Border Victor^b1²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 84

16/1

0-8 so far and has failed to suggest that he will be winning soon despite plummeting in the weights. However, worth noting that he was sent off at just 13-2 when pulled up last time and blinkers now added. Leap of faith required to support him.

Form: 5447-7P

The Junior Man^p1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: J R Norton| OR: 83

50/1

Has been sent off at fancy prices in all four hurdles so far, including two here over 2m5½f. Drops 4lb after failing to complete on handicap debut at Hexham last time and cheek pieces now added. Plenty to prove.

Form: 3/0477-P

Windy Writer^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 81

12/1

0-12 over hurdles and now on a career-low mark after latest 5lb drop. Looked a little unlucky not to finish closer at Southwell (1m7½f) two starts ago. Not quite as good there (2m4½f) last time, but worth a try over this trip.

Form: 56-P054

Pineapple Crush^p,t¹⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 80

14/1

Best effort so far was on good ground at Carlisle (2m3½f) in May, when a 12½L fourth. Returns after six-month break on first run for this yard. Step up in trip may induce improvement and she is an interesting runner. Market check advised.

Form: 06-475P

Poetic Presence²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 77| D

16/1

16-race maiden over hurdles. Put up her best performance to date when third, beaten just over 6L, at Hexham (2m7½f, soft) last month. 4lb higher today, but seen enough to give her an each-way squeak in this field.

Form: 2P7534

Broadway Belle³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 74

7/1

Placed in half of her 12 hurdles runs and is often competitive without being able to get her nose in front. Beat everything barring wide margin winner at Fakenham winner last time and can again go well from same mark.

Form: 32-2452

Honeychile Ryder^h1⁴³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: B S Hughes| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 73

10/1

Yet to trouble the judge in six attempts over hurdles and has not seen much action recently, with only one start since July 2015. Best effort when last seen 14-months ago and market check suggested in a race that won't take much winning.

Form: 88656/4-

My Brown Eyed Girl^t²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 65

66/1

Has failed to complete in three of her last four starts and has been well beaten on every occasion that she has gone the distance. 9lb out of the handicap and impossible to recommend.

Form: 85U0-PP

Non-Runners

Gentleman James¹

Weight: 10-0| Age: 5

T: Mrs Dianne Sayer J: Jamie Hamilton

Forecasts

Flemerina (5/1), Psychocandy (5/1), Tickanrun (6/1), Broadway Belle (7/1), Final Fling (10/1), Honeychile Ryder (10/1), Spoils Of War (12/1), Windy Writer (12/1), Pineapple Crush (14/1), Poetic Presence (16/1), Border Victor (16/1), Gentleman James (16/1), Turtle Cask (20/1), Diamant de L'Ouest (28/1), Houndscourt (33/1), The Junior Man (50/1), My Brown Eyed Girl (66/1)

Poor fayre to wrap up proceedings here and with the stable among the winners it might be worth giving another chance to WINDY WRITER, who has dropped to a career-low mark and looks worth a try over this far. Pineapple Crush could emerge as a danger on her first run for Phil Kirby, while Broadway Belle is likely to be competitive, Turtle Cask has to be considered and Flemerina, Spoils Of War and Tickanrun could all have a say.