14:30 Hereford

Tuesday 16 January 2018

All12:2012:5013:2514:0014:3015:0515:4016:10

myracing.com For Free Bets And Tips Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 5m 45.10s

Asking Questions^p,t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Ian Popham| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 100

6/1

3m point-to-point winner who found only Steel Native (runs earlier) too good at Ffos Las latest (2m4f heavy). That represented a much improved effort for current connections, and this longer trip looks a plus.

Form: 22-4082

Steel Express⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Conor Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss L Blackford| OR: 100

4/1

Bumper winner who hasn't quite fulfilled that promise over hurdles including in handicaps where his initial high mark is now easing. Ran with credit last time (showed benefit of reappearance) but still has work to do off this mark.

Form: 6736-03

Colt Lightning¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: T Scudamore| T: T Lacey| OR: 98

15/2

Seems to be regressing rather than progressing, but in fairness he remains lightly raced after just four starts. Feasibly the hock deep ground wasn't to his liking at Warwick latest (pulled up), but ideally needs to settle better here.

Form: 2746P

Cry Wolf^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: H J Evans| OR: 98

25/1

A 13 race maiden (0 from 8 over hurdles). Possibly flattered by his finishing position when third at Market Rasen in October (2m4f+), and that's seemingly evidenced by his subsequent efforts.

Form: 6-7634P

Justice Knight⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Benjamin Poste| T: M Scudamore| OR: 98

9/1

Positively ridden at Exeter on his penultimate start (2m2f soft), and that, coupled with a switch to handicaps appeared to coincide with an upturn in his fortunes. However, not so good latest, and it's back to the drawing board.

Form: 5S5628

Theatre Stage⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 97| BF

4/1

Beaten at short odds in a muddling race at Ffos Las latest (2m soft), but it's possibly best to write that off and focus upon his previous effort at Exeter (2m1f). Longer trip should prove helpful.

Form: 32-535

We'll Be There^t⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Nick Scholfield| T: W S Kittow| OR: 97

11/1

Produced a career best effort on her handicap debut when beaten just a neck by Rafafie at Chepstow in March (2m3f+ soft). Tailed off on her seasonal reappearance in October (and held by Steel Express), but still largely unexposed despite her age.

Form: 6/P322-7

Nosper^t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Alice Mills⁽³⁾| T: R H Buckler| OR: 95

66/1

Has been with a few trainers since winning on the Flat in France (March 2015). Pulled up on stable debut, and her first run since June 2016, at Fontwell last month (2m3f heavy).

Form: 60/4-P

Hoola Hula⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Lucy Gardner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 95

8/1

Looked as if she could find a small race at some point earlier in her career, but she has failed to maintain her form this season. Well beaten on handicap debut over a slightly shorter trip here in November.

Form: 433-300

Odello^t⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 94

8/1

Made all to take a Warwick bumper on debut in November 2016 (2m good) but has proved disappointing over hurdles. That said, she'll think she's running loose in this race after clashing with Claimantakinforgan latest (tailed off). Tries a new trip.

Form: 15-007

Ring Minella²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 92

66/1

A brother to three winners, including Minella Theatre, but that's largely irrelevant given the form he's offered so far over hurdles. Never in contention at any stage at Plumpton in December (2m4f), and couldn't be entertained.

Form: F00

Forecasts

Theatre Stage (4/1), Steel Express (4/1), Asking Questions (6/1), Colt Lightning (15/2), Odello (8/1), Hoola Hula (8/1), Justice Knight (9/1), We'll Be There (11/1), Cry Wolf (25/1), Ring Minella (66/1), Nosper (66/1)

A rather unappealing novices handicap hurdle, in which the top-weighted ASKING QUESTIONS should have a positive role to play following an improved effort at Ffos Las last month; form which could be well advertised by Steel Native in the previous race. A winner of a 3m Tyrella point-to-point in January 2017, this longer trip should play to his strengths in a very winnable contest. Of the others Theatre Stage has claims in a race where the pace should be decent with front runners such as Justice Knight and Odello in the line up.