15:05 Hereford

Tuesday 16 January 2018

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

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Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 5m 2.4s

Seymour Star⁵⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-7| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 137| C

14/1

Late to the party, but made remarkable progress in novice hurdles last season by notching a hat-trick of victories at Ludlow (twice) and here at Hereford (2m3f). Tailed off on seasonal reappearance, and has a tough task with a welter burden.

Form: 65111-0

Applesandpierres²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 128| D

16/1

Notched his third success under rules when keeping on well to deny Guitar Pete by a neck at Wetherby in April (2m3f+ good). That form has been franked since by the runner up, but he looks a shade too high off this mark.

Form: FF21-55

Carlos Du Fruitier³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 127| BF| D

5/2

Off the mark over hurdles at Wetherby in early November (2m3f+ novices hurdle), when beating Jammin Masters by ¾L. Just feeling the pinch on handicap debut when falling three out at Doncaster latest. Still unexposed.

Form: 120-21F

Dubawi Island^b⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 125

50/1

Capable hurdler when on song (5 from 14), but has struggled to produce his best form for a couple of years. Permitted to have needed the run at Wincanton in November (after 11 months off), and eased a further 3lb since.

Form: 820P/P-7

Otter Moon¹⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: T R George| OR: 124| D

14/1

Looked a shade exposed prior to his success at Perth in July (2m4f maiden hurdle good), but it's likely that he has needed a longer trip in order to progress. Tries the handicap route after a break from a tricky opening mark of 124.

Form: 976-231

Away For Slates^t1²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 124

6/1

Won twice for Keith Dalgleish in early 2016 before disappearing into the wilderness for over 18 months. Has re-emerged with a trainer who excels with others cast offs, and ran well at Wetherby on his penultimate start (2m3f+). Tongue tied.

Form: P51/426

Gassin Golf^p,t¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: R Johnson| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 123

4/1

Won just once in 23 starts over hurdles (2m), but sliding in the weights, and made the frame at Sandown latest (2m heavy) when 6¼L third to Call Me Lord. Stamina to definitively prove.

Form: 25F0-83

Trans Express^p1²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Lucy Gardner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 118

7/1

Saves his best form for Exeter, and is a three time winner at that track over an extended 2m2f. 8lb above his last winning mark, but will handle the forecast ground conditions, and the cheek-pieces are applied for some variety.

Form: 0-51561

Castafiore^p,h³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 117

9/1

Mare who goes both left and right handed, and was a game winner at Doncaster latest (2m good) when beating subsequent Wetherby winner Gran Maestro by a head (fourth also won since). 5lb rise fair, but stamina a concern.

Form: 16P-531

Cougar Kid^p¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Miss Brodie Hampson⁽⁵⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 105| CD

12/1

C&D winner in November from a 12lb lower mark, but has gone in again since then at Leicester (2m soft). Has appeared held off this mark most latterly, and this race rates as a stronger contest.

Form: 351135

Forecasts

Carlos Du Fruitier (5/2), Gassin Golf (4/1), Away For Slates (6/1), Trans Express (7/1), Castafiore (9/1), Cougar Kid (12/1), Seymour Star (14/1), Otter Moon (14/1), Applesandpierres (16/1), Dubawi Island (50/1)

A decent little handicap, and a race in which the majority of the field have something to offer when the conditions present. Castafiore would've been the selection over a shorter trip with her recent Doncaster success franked by both Gran Maestro and Crackdeloust. However, the suspicion is that she'll be slightly vulnerable over this longer trip (much like Gassin Golf), even allowing for Hereford being a relatively easy track. Trans Express has yet to score away from Exeter, but could keep progressing if the first time cheek-pieces keep him enthused, but a chance is taken on the largely unexposed CARLOS DU FRUITIER. Ben Pauling's six-year-old is yet to fully prove himself in handicap company, but he's generally heading in the right direction again over hurdles, and some of his earlier efforts in bumpers read particularly well.